Convergent Plate Boundaries

Convergent Plate Boundaries Convergent plate boundaries are areas where two tectonic plates are moving toward each other Will have the most explosive volcanic and earthquake activity Oceanic-Oceanic Oceanic-Continental Continental-Continental

Lithospheric Plates There are 2 types of lithospheric plates: Oceanic – Composed of Basalt, more dense Continental – Composed of Granite, less dense Subduction – Process where one plate is pushed underneath another The denser plate is ALWAYS subducted under the less dense plate

Deep Sea Trenches Deep Sea Trenches – Deep depressions in the seafloor Result from 2 plates converging Mariana Trench – Deep Sea Trench located near East Asia. The deepest area in the world (over six miles deep

Oceanic-Oceanic Convergent 2 oceanic plates come together The denser plate goes underneath the other (subduction) Some of the magma is forced back to the surface, pushes through the crust and forms a volcanic island arc and a deep sea trench Mariana Trench Aleutian Arc

Oceanic-Continental Convergent An oceanic plate and a continental plate converge Results in: Volcanoes along coast of the continents Deep Sea Trench Example: Mt. St. Helens Peru-Chile Trench Andes Mountains Pacific Ring Of Fire

Pacific Ring of Fire Pacific Ring Of Fire – Ring of volcanoes around the Pacific Ocean Results from a convergent plate boundary The Cascades in Western US is included Contains the majority of active volcanoes on Earth

Continental-Continental Convergent 2 continental plates converge The colliding edges of the continents are uplifted and form a mountain range (not volcanic) Example: Himalayas