Plate Tectonics

Divergent Boundary

A type of plate boundary where plates move apart, creating tension and leading to the formation of rift valleys and oceanic ridges.

Convergent Plate Boundary

A boundary where two plates move towards each other, causing one plate to subduct beneath the other, leading to trenches and earthquakes.

Transform Fault Boundary

A boundary where plates slide past each other without diverging or converging, often associated with earthquake activity.

Oceanic-Continental Convergence

A type of convergent boundary where an oceanic plate subducts beneath a continental plate, forming volcanic arcs and causing earthquakes.

Oceanic-Oceanic Convergence

A convergent boundary where one oceanic plate subducts beneath another, leading to magma formation and trench creation.

Continental-Continental Convergence

A type of convergent boundary where two continental plates collide, creating mountain ranges without subduction.

Subduction Process

The bending of a denser oceanic crust towards the mantle, leading to melting and magma formation.

Ocean Trenches

Deep underwater valleys formed at convergent boundaries, such as the Philippine Trench, which is the deepest part of the ocean.

Shallow Earthquakes

Earthquakes occurring at depths within 60 km of the Earth's surface, accounting for 85% of total earthquake energy released.

Intermediate Earthquakes

Earthquakes with focal depths ranging from 60 to 300 km, contributing about 12% of total earthquake energy.

Deep Earthquakes

Earthquakes originating from depths greater than 300 km, reaching up to 700 km below the Earth's surface.

Tsunami

A series of long-wavelength ocean waves caused by large-scale disturbances, often generated by underwater earthquakes.

Volcanic Island Arc

A chain of volcanoes formed parallel to a trench, resulting from the melting of subducted oceanic crust.

Collision Zone

The area formed when two continental plates converge, resulting in the creation of mountain ranges without subduction.