Tectonic plates

What occurs at destructive plate margins?

Earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanos

Describe how earthquakes occur at destructive plate margins.

The plates move towards each other and the dense oceanic plate is subducted under the less dense continental plate. Friction between the two plates causes strong earthquakes.

Describe how volcanos occur at destructive plate margins.

The plates move towards each other and the dense oceanic plate is subducted under the less dense continental plate. As the oceanic plate moves downwards it melts creating magma. The magma breaks through the surface to form volcanos.

What occurs at constructive plate margins?

Earthquakes and shield volcanos

Describe how volcanos occur at constructive plate margins.

As the plates move apart magma rises through the gaps. As it breaks through the crust it cools and solidifies creating small volcanos with very fluid magma.

What occurs at conservative plate margins?

Earthquakes

Describe how earthquakes occur at conservative plate margins.

Friction causes the plates to stick and pressure builds between them resulting in earthquakes.

Where is the focus?

It is usually close to the surface.