Earth Science Section 17.3
how many major plates are there
12
oceanic-oceanic example of region affected example of land form produced
aluetian islands chagulak island, alaska
oceanic-continental example of region affected example of land form produced
andes mountain range osorno volcano, chile
continental-continental example of region affected example of land form produced
himalayas ama dablan nepal
what are tectonic plates
huge pieces of crust and rigid upper mantle that fit together at their edges to cover Earths surface.
what is subduction
the process in which when two plates collide the denser plate eventually descend below the other
what is plate tectonics
the theory that describes how tectonic plates move and shape Earths surface.
what are rift valleys
when continental crust begins to separate, the stretched crust forms a long, narrow depression
what is a divergent boundary
where tectonic plates move away form each other
what is a transform boundary
where tectonic plates move horizontally past each other
what is a convergent boundary
where tectonic plates move toward each other
