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In plate tectonics, a divergent boundary or divergent plate boundary (also known as a constructive boundary or an extensional boundary) is a linear feature that exists between two tectonic plates that are moving away from each other.
Learn how plates move apart above rising convection currents and create different features depending on the type of lithosphere. See examples of divergent boundaries in the ocean and on land, and explore satellite images of rifts and mid-ocean ridges.
Movement in narrow zones along plate boundaries causes most earthquakes. Most seismic activity occurs at three types of plate boundaries—divergent, convergent, and transform. As the plates move past each other, they sometimes get caught and pressure builds up.
Learn how the Earth's lithosphere is made up of moving tectonic plates that form three kinds of boundaries: divergent, convergent, and transform. Divergent boundaries occur when two plates move away from each other, creating new oceanic crust and volcanoes.
At divergent boundaries, sometimes called constructive boundaries, lithospheric plates move away from each other. There are two types of divergent boundaries, categorized by where they occur: continental rift zones and mid-ocean ridges.
Mar 7, 2024 · There are many different types of plate boundaries. For example, sections of Earth’s crust can come together and collide (a “convergent” plate boundary), spread apart (a “divergent” plate boundary), or slide past one another (a “transform” plate boundary).
Jan 17, 2020 · Learn how divergent boundaries occur where tectonic plates move apart from each other, forming new lithosphere and magma. Explore examples of divergent zones in the ocean and on land, and how they affect Earth's history and geology.
