4.1 Plate Tectonics

Describe the geological changes and events that occur at convergent, divergent, and transform plate boundaries.

• Convergent boundaries can result in the creation of mountains, island arcs, earthquakes, and volcanoes.
• Divergent boundaries can result in seafloor spreading, rift valleys, volcanoes, and earthquakes.
• Transform boundaries can result in earthquakes.
• Maps that show the global distribution of plate boundaries can be used to determine the location of volcanoes, island arcs, earthquakes, hot spots, and faults.
• An earthquake occurs when stress overcomes a locked fault, releasing stored energy.
• Enduring understanding ERT-4: Earth’s systems interact, resulting in a state of balance over time.