Question
What are divergent plates?
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Divergent plates are tectonic plates that move away from each other due to the process of seafloor spreading. This movement occurs at mid-ocean ridges, where magma rises from the mantle to create new oceanic crust as the plates pull apart. As the plates separate, a gap is created, and magma fills this gap, forming new material.
This process can lead to the formation of new ocean basins and contributes to the geological features associated with divergent boundaries, such as rift valleys and volcanic activity. Examples of divergent boundaries include the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the East African Rift. The movement of divergent plates is generally associated with moderate seismic activity but tends to produce less powerful earthquakes compared to convergent boundaries, where plates collide.
This process can lead to the formation of new ocean basins and contributes to the geological features associated with divergent boundaries, such as rift valleys and volcanic activity. Examples of divergent boundaries include the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the East African Rift. The movement of divergent plates is generally associated with moderate seismic activity but tends to produce less powerful earthquakes compared to convergent boundaries, where plates collide.