Earths Structure And Layers Questions Medium
Tectonic plates are large, rigid pieces of the Earth's lithosphere that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle to form the Earth's surface. These plates are constantly moving, albeit very slowly, due to the convective currents in the underlying asthenosphere.
The interaction between tectonic plates occurs at their boundaries, which can be classified into three main types: divergent boundaries, convergent boundaries, and transform boundaries.
At divergent boundaries, tectonic plates move away from each other. This movement creates a gap where magma rises from the mantle, forming new crust and creating a feature known as a mid-ocean ridge. As the plates continue to move apart, the new crust cools and solidifies, resulting in the formation of new oceanic lithosphere.
Convergent boundaries, on the other hand, involve tectonic plates colliding with each other. When an oceanic plate collides with a continental plate, the denser oceanic plate is forced beneath the less dense continental plate in a process called subduction. This subduction leads to the formation of deep ocean trenches and volcanic activity. When two continental plates collide, neither is subducted, and instead, the collision results in the formation of mountain ranges.
Transform boundaries occur when tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally. These boundaries are characterized by intense seismic activity, as the plates can become locked due to friction and then suddenly release, causing earthquakes. The San Andreas Fault in California is a well-known example of a transform boundary.
In summary, tectonic plates interact with each other at their boundaries, leading to various geological phenomena such as the formation of new crust, subduction, volcanic activity, mountain building, and earthquakes. These interactions are a result of the continuous movement of the plates driven by the underlying convective currents in the Earth's mantle.