Plate Tectonics Questions Medium
The process of transform plate boundary formation occurs when two tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally. This movement is known as transform motion. As the plates move, they can become locked due to friction, causing stress to build up along the boundary. Eventually, the stress overcomes the friction, and the plates suddenly slip, releasing energy in the form of earthquakes. These earthquakes are typically shallow and occur along a linear fault line. The movement of the plates along the transform boundary is not accompanied by the creation or destruction of crust, unlike other types of plate boundaries. Instead, the plates simply slide past each other, resulting in lateral displacement. Transform plate boundaries are commonly found in areas where two oceanic plates or an oceanic plate and a continental plate meet, such as the San Andreas Fault in California.