1.  Tectonic Processes

2. 3 Boundary Types  A boundary exists between two plates that have interacted.  There are three types of boundaries that geologists observe.  Divergent boundaries  Convergent boundaries, and  Transform/Sliding boundaries.

3.  As the giant plates move, whether they are diverging [pulling apart] converging [coming together] or sliding [transform], tremendous energies are unleashed resulting in tremors that transform Earth’s surface.  No single plate can move without affecting others, and the activity of one can influence another thousands of miles away

4. 1.Divergent Boundaries  Divergence: When plates move apart  At divergent boundaries new crust is created as two or more plates pull away from each other.  2 types: oceanic and continental

5. Diagram for your notes

6. Divergent Plate Boundary - Oceanic  Divergent boundaries happen when two ocean plates move apart.  When they move away from each other, they leave a crack in the ocean floor. Lava flows out of the crack and makes new land (rock).

7. Divergent Plate Boundary - Oceanic

8. Divergent Plate Boundary - Continental  When diverging boundary occurs on land, a 'rift', or separation will arise  Over time that mass of land will break apart into distinct land masses and the surrounding water will fill the space between them

9. 2. Convergent Boundaries  Convergence: When plates collide  There are 3 types of convergent boundaries:  1)Oceanic-Continental Convergence  2) Oceanic-Oceanic Convergence  3) Continental-Continental Convergence.

10. Convergence: 1) Oceanic-Continental  When an ocean plate and a continental plate bang into each other, the thinner plate (ocean plate) gets pushed under the thicker plate (continental plate).  This leaves a trench where the two plates meet

11. Diagram for your notes

12. Convergence: 2) Oceanic-Oceanic  When two oceanic plates collide one is usually pushed under the other and in the process a deep oceanic trench is formed.

13. Diagram for your notes

14. Convergence: 3) Continental-Continental  When two continental plates bang into each other, they get pushed up and make mountains.

15. Diagram for your notes

16. Continental-Continental

17. 3. Transform/ Sliding  Transform happens when ocean plates or continental plates move beside each other.  When they try to slide past each other, they sometimes get stuck. Pressure builds up and eventually they slide very quickly.  This can cause an earthquake. Earthquakes can cause lots of damage.

18. Transform/ Sliding Diagram for your notes

19. Transform/ Sliding