Types of Plate Boundary

• Volcanic eruptions and earthquakes most commonly occur at or near plate boundaries
• There are four main types of plate boundary:
  • Constructive (divergent)
  • Destructive (convergent)
  • Collision
  • Conservative (transform)

Constructive (Divergent) Plate Boundary

• At the constructive boundary the plates are moving apart
• The?Mid Atlantic Ridge?is an example of a constructive plate boundary
• Both volcanic eruptions and earthquakes can occur at this type of plate boundary

Constructive (Divergent) plate boundary

Destructive (Convergent) Plate Boundary

• At a destructive (convergent) plate boundary the plates are moving together
• The denser, heavier?oceanic plate?subducts?under the lighter,?less dense continental plate
• The boundary between the Nazca plate and the South American plate is an example
• Both volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur at this type of plate boundary

Destructive (Convergent) Plate Boundary

Collision Boundary

• At a collision boundary two plates of similar density move towards each other
• Neither is dense enough to subduct so the land is pushed upwards
• This forms?fold mountains?such as the?Himalayas
• Earthquakes are the main hazard at this type of plate boundary

Collision Boundary

Conservative (Transform) Boundary

• At a conservative (transform) boundary the plates move passed each other in opposite directions or in the same direction at different speeds
• Earthquakes are the the only hazard at this type of boundary

Conservative (Transform) Boundary

• Volcanoes occur at?constructive (divergent),?destructive (convergent)?plate boundaries and?hot spots
• Volcanoes do not occur at?collision?boundaries or?conservative (transform)?boundaries

Volcanoes at Constructive Boundaries

• At a constructive (divergent) boundary the tectonic plates are moving away from each other:
  • Constructive plate boundaries often occur under the sea/ocean
  • The lava escapes through the gap left as the plates move apart
  • The lava cools and hardens forming new crust
• At constructive plate boundaries the lava tends to be runny and eruptions are less explosive
• These types of eruption form?shield volcanoes?which have gently sloping sides

Volcanoes at Destructive Boundaries

• At a destructive (convergent) boundary the tectonic plates are moving towards each other:
  • The heavier, denser oceanic plate?subducts?under the lighter continental plate
  • In the subduction zone the two plates come together causing?friction
  • Friction causes heat and the plate material melts forming magma
  • The magma rises to the surface through cracks in the crust
  • The cooling lava and ash builds up forming a volcano
• At destructive plate boundaries the lava tends to be sticky and produces explosive eruptions
• These eruptions tend to form?composite or stratovolcanoes?

Volcanoes at Hot Spots

• At a?hot spot?the tectonic plate passes over a?plume of magma:
  • The magma rises to the surface through cracks in the crust
  • As the tectonic plate moves slowly over the magma plume a line of islands may form e.g. Hawaii

Volcano Primary and Secondary Hazards

• Volcanic eruptions only become hazards when they affect people
• The hazards from the volcanic eruption itself are primary hazards:
  • Ash
  • Pyroclastic flow
  • Lava flow
  • Gas emissions
  • Volcanic bombs
• The hazards created that happen as a result of the primary hazards are secondary hazards:
  • Lahars
  • Acidification
  • Landslides
  • Climate change
  • Fires
  • Floods

Earthquakes and Plate Boundaries

• Earthquakes can occur anywhere but mostly occur at or near plate boundaries
• Earthquakes happen at all plate boundaries -?constructive (divergent), destructive (convergent), collision?and?conservative (transform)

• At a constructive (divergent) plate boundary, earthquakes tend to be weaker as the plates are moving apart
• At a destructive (convergent), collision and conservative (transform) plate boundaries earthquakes tend to be stronger

Earthquakes Primary and Secondary Hazards

• The primary hazard of an earthquake is the ground shaking all other hazards then follow on from this as secondary hazards
• Secondary hazards can include:
  • Collapse of buildings and other structures
  • Landslides
  • Gas leaks
  • Fires
  • Soil liquifaction
  • Subsidence
  • Mudflows
  • Tsunami

Earthquake Sequence

• The sequence of an earthquake is the same regardless of the boundary at which it happens:
  • As the tectonic plates move, they can get stuck
  • Pressure builds as the plates continue to try to move
  • Eventually the plates jolt free and the pressure is released as energy
  • The point at which the earthquake starts is the?focus
  • The?epicentre?is the point directly above the focus on the earth's surface
  • The energy passes through the Earth's crust as waves which is the earthquake
• Earthquakes can happen as a result of human activity such as drilling into the crust or mining

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