| Divergent Boundary |
Article Index for Divergent |
Website Links For Divergent |
Information AboutDivergent Boundary |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT DIVERGENT BOUNDARY | |
| plate tectonics | |
|
In Plate Tectonics , a divergent boundary ('''divergent fault boundary''' or '''divergent plate boundary'''), (but 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. These areas can form in the middle of Continent s but eventually form ocean basins. Divergent boundaries within continents initially produce Rifts which produce Rift Valley s. If the rifting process stops, a failed rift results. Therefore, most active divergent plate boundaries exist between Oceanic Plate s and are often called '''oceanic rifts'''. Divergent boundaries are a type of stress called '''tension'''. It is when two bodies of land are spread apart. Although still an area of active research, it appears that due to complex from the Asthenosphere (or upper mantle) beneath the rift area forming large Flood Basalt flows. Each eruption occurs in only a part of the plate boundary at any one time, but when it does occur, it fills in the opening gap as the two opposing plates move away from each other. The average rate of movement is comparable to how fast human Fingernail s grow, about 2 cm a year. Over millions of years the plates have moved many hundreds of kilometers away from both sides of the divergent plate boundary. Because of this, rock closest to the boundary is younger than rock further away on the same plate. Continental Crust is often split along divergent plate boundaries. DIVERGENT BOUNDARIES
OTHER PLATE BOUNDARY TYPES SEE ALSO REFERENCES |
|
|