What happens at a convergent plate boundary?

Plate Tectonics Questions



58 Short 67 Medium 49 Long Answer Questions Question Index

What happens at a convergent plate boundary?

At a convergent plate boundary, two tectonic plates collide with each other. The result of this collision depends on the type of plates involved. If both plates are made of oceanic crust, one plate will be forced beneath the other in a process called subduction. This creates a deep ocean trench and can lead to the formation of volcanic arcs and earthquakes. If one plate is made of oceanic crust and the other is made of continental crust, the denser oceanic plate will subduct beneath the less dense continental plate, resulting in the formation of mountain ranges and volcanic activity. If both plates are made of continental crust, they will collide and crumple, forming large mountain ranges.