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Most divergent boundaries are located along mid-ocean oceanic ridges (although some are on land). The mid-ocean ridge system is a giant undersea mountain range, and is the largest geological feature on Earth; at 65,000 km long and about 1000 km wide, it covers 23% of Earth’s surface (Figure 4.5.1 4.5. 1 ). Because the new crust formed at the ...
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When a divergent boundary occurs beneath oceanic lithosphere, the rising convection current below lifts the lithosphere, producing a mid-ocean ridge. Extensional forces stretch the lithosphere and produce a deep fissure. When the fissure opens, pressure is reduced on the super-heated mantle material below. It responds by melting, and the new magma ...
The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a classic example of this type of plate boundary. The Ridge is a high area compared to the surrounding seafloor because of the lift from the convection current below. A frequent misconception is that the Ridge is a build-up of volcanic materials; however, the magma that fills the fissure does not flood extensively over the...
Visit the Interactive Plate Boundary Map to explore satellite images of divergent boundaries between oceanic plates. Two locations are marked: 1) the Mid-Atlantic Ridge exposed above sea level on the island of Iceland, and 2) the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between North America and Africa.
Effects that are found at a divergent boundary between oceanic plates include: a submarine mountain range such as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge; volcanic activity in the form of fissure eruptions; shallow earthquake activity; creation of new seafloor and a widening ocean basin. Effects that are found at this type of plate boundary include: a rift valley s...
Apr 24, 2024 · The colliding frictional forces between the two plates create earthquakes starting around the trench and progressing inward along the subduction plate. Just like continental-to-oceanic convergence, this plate boundary can generate powerful earthquakes and volcanoes. A trench marks the boundary of the two plates.
Feb 15, 2021 · Continental Rifting. Continental Rifting occurs where divergent boundaries form within continental landmasses: • Involves rifting (pulling apart) of continental crust (CC) only. • Forms possibly from convection in the asthenosphere. • Large amounts of sediments are usually produced in continental rifting zones.
Divergent boundary. 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. Divergent boundaries within continents initially produce rifts, which eventually become rift ...
Most movement occurs along narrow zones between plates where the results of plate-tectonic forces are most evident. There are four types of plate boundaries: Divergent boundaries -- where new crust is generated as the plates pull away from each other. Convergent boundaries -- where crust is destroyed as one plate dives under another.
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Figure 4.5.3 Mechanism for divergent plate boundaries. The region in the outlined rectangle represent the mid-ocean ridge (Steven Earle, “Physical Geology”). Spreading is hypothesized to start within a continental area with up-warping or doming of crust related to an underlying mantle plume or series of mantle plumes.
