Plate Tectonics

The Earth’s lithosphere is broken into large pieces called tectonic plates. Convection currents in the partially molten asthenosphere move these plates across the surface of the Earth. Locations where one plate interacts with another are called plate boundaries. There are three types of plate boundaries that occur on Earth, convergent, divergent, and transform. Each type of plate boundary has unique characteristics. We also find volcanoes and earthquakes that occur away from plate boundaries. These are called hot spots. Use the tabs below to explore the features found at plate boundaries and hot spots.

Convergent Plate Boundaries: Subduction Zone

This is the boundary between a piece of oceanic crust and a piece of continental crust that are colliding into each other. The dense, thin oceanic crust is forced underground, into the asthenosphere as it collides with the continental plate. A trench is formed where the plates first meet and strong earthquakes are common. On the continental side of the boundary, volcanic mountains are common as the subducting plate melts in the asthenosphere and the melting rock rises and breaks through the surface. A commonly discussed example of a subduction zone is the Peru-Chile trench, on the West coast of South America.

Convergent Plate Boundaries: Island Arc

This is the boundary between two oceanic plates that are colliding. Both dense, thin plates crash into each other and battle to see which one will be forced to subduct. Eventually, one plate will win, forcing the other plate into the hot mantle below. A trench will form at the point where the two plates meet which is also the site of intense earthquakes. Volcanic islands will rise from the sea-floor above the plate that was not subducted. These volcanoes are fed by the melting remnants of the subducting plate. A commonly discussed example is the Aleutian Island chain in the northern Pacific Ocean.

Convergent Plate Boundaries: Collision Zone

This is the boundary between two continental plates that are colliding. The thick, continental crusts crash into each other forcing the land to rise, forming giant, rugged mountains. It is similar to a head-on collision between two cars. As they collide, the cars crumple up. Earthquakes are common in the active plate boundary. Volcanoes are rare as no crust is being forced into the mantle. A commonly discussed example is the Himalaya Mountain chain in Northern India.

Divergent Plate Boundaries: Spreading Centers

This is the boundary between two oceanic plates that are moving away from each other. Magma rises between the plates forming new oceanic crust and forcing the plates apart. The youngest rock is found at the ridge and it gets older as get further away from the ridge. The volcanic mountains at the ridge can grow upwards of one mile above the surrounding sea floor. Molten rock flows over the surface and solidifies instantly. Mild earthquakes are common at spreading centers.

Divergent Plate Boundaries: Rift Valley

This is the boundary between two continental plates that are being torn apart. A crack in the continental crust allows melted rock to escape to the surface, forming new rock and forcing the plates apart. A valley forms between the plates and is eventually filled in with water to create a young sea, similar to the Red sea. Mild earthquakes are common as the land is torn apart.

Transform Plate Boundaries: Transverse Faults

This is a plate boundary in which two plates slide past one another. Friction and pressure are built up as the thick rocky chunks of land are scraped by one another. When this pressure is released, an earthquake occurs. Strong earthquakes are common along transform plate boundaries, though mountains, trenches and volcanoes are rare. A commonly discussed example of a transform plate boundary is the San Andreas Fault in California.

Mantle Hot Spots

Hot spots are active volcanoes that are not located along plate boundaries. The “hot spot” itself is an area of magma (called a plume) that has risen up and broken through the lithosphere, erupting on the surface. It will remain in the same spot while plate moves over it, resulting is a chain of volcanoes, with the only active one directly over the hot spot. As the islands get further from the hot spot, the age increases.


Tectonic Plates


Patterns of Seismic Activity


Continental Drift
Convection Demonstrations
Divergent Boundaries
Convergent Boundaries
Transform Boundaries and Hot Spots
Tectonic Plates ESRT
Earth's Interior
P and S Wave ESRT


Age of the Seafloor
Plate Boundaries #1
Plate Boundaries #2
Plate Boundaries #3
Collision Zone #1
Collision Zone #2
Continental Drift #1
Continental Drift #2
Continental Drift #3
Continental Drift #4
Mantle Convection #1
Mantle Convection #2
Mantle Convection #3
Crater Lake Formation
Tsunami Detection
Divergent Boundary #1
Divergent Boundary #2
Divergent Boundary #3
Divergent Boundary #4
Earthquake Focus/Epicenter
Folding #1
Folding #2
Hot Spots #1
Hot Spots #2
Hot Spots #3
Rifting #1
Rifting #2
Island Arc Formation
Locating an Epicenter
Seafloor Magnetism #1
Seafloor Magnetism #2
Seafloor Magnetism #3
Seafloor Magnetism #4
Seismic Wave Motion #1
Seismic Wave Motion #2
Seismic Wave Motion #3
Rock Deformation
Plate Tectonics Tutorial
Seismic Waves
Shadow Zone #1
Shadow Zone #2
Subduction Zone #1
Subduction Zone #2
Subduction Zone #3
Earthquake Depth
Southeast Asian Tsunami
California Earthquakes
Earthquake Formation
Earthquake Footage #1
Earthquake Footage #2
Earthquake Tutorial
Earth's Interior Tutorial
Thickness of the Crust
Transform Fault
Eruption Footage #1
Eruption Footage #2
Normal Fault
Reverse Fault
Strike-Slip Fault
Thrust Fault
Himalayas Formation
Hydrothermal Vent #1
Hydrothermal Vent #2
Oceanic Crust Formation
Seismic Waves ESRT
P-Wave Motion
S-Wave Motion
Seismic Wave Refraction
Seafloor Spreading
Seismometer #1
Seismometer #2
Seismometer #3
Mt. St. Helens Eruption
Tectonic Plates ESRT
Tsunami Motion
Volcanism Tutorial