Linear feature that exists between two tectonic plates that are moving away from each other
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In plate tectonics, a divergent boundary or divergent plate boundary (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. Divergent boundaries within continents initially produce rifts, which eventually become rift valleys. Most active divergent plate boundaries occur between oceanic plates and exist as mid-oceanic ridges.[1][2]
Current research indicates that complex convection within the Earth's mantle allows material to rise to the base of the lithosphere beneath each divergent plate boundary.[3]
This supplies the area with huge amounts of heat and a reduction in pressure that melts rock from the asthenosphere (or upper mantle) beneath the rift area, forming large flood basalt or lava 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.
Over millions of years, tectonic plates may move many hundreds of kilometers away from both sides of a divergent plate boundary. Because of this, rocks closest to a boundary are younger than rocks further away on the same plate.
^Langmuir, Charles H.; Klein, Emily M.; Plank, Terry (2013). "Petrological Systematics of Mid-Ocean Ridge Basalts: Constraints on Melt Generation Beneath Ocean Ridges". Mantle Flow and Melt Generation at Mid-Ocean Ridges. Geophysical Monograph Series. pp. 183–280. doi:10.1029/GM071p0183. hdl:10161/8316. ISBN 9781118663875.
^Sinton, John M.; Detrick, Robert S. (1992). "Mid-ocean ridge magma chambers". Journal of Geophysical Research. 97 (B1): 197. Bibcode:1992JGR....97..197S. doi:10.1029/91JB02508.
plate tectonics, a divergentboundary or divergent plate boundary (also known as a constructive boundary or an extensional boundary) is a linear feature...
still results in net destruction when summed over major plate boundaries. Divergentboundaries are areas where plates move away from each other, forming either...
plate boundary. Most such faults are found in oceanic crust, where they accommodate the lateral offset between segments of divergentboundaries, forming...
meet, their relative motion determines the type of plate boundary (or fault): convergent, divergent, or transform. The relative movement of the plates typically...
transform boundary with the North American Plate along the San Andreas Fault, and a boundary with the Cocos Plate. The south-eastern side is a divergent boundary...
the Philippine Sea Plate to the west by a divergentboundary with numerous transform fault offsets. The boundary between the Mariana and the Pacific Plate...
glacial deposition, marine sediment, marine transgressions, volcanoes, divergentboundaries or river sedimentation. More than one factor may play into the formation...
Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The easterly edge is a divergentboundary with the African Plate; the southerly edge is a complex boundary with the Antarctic Plate, the Scotia...
divergent boundary with the Antarctic Plate, the Chile Rise, where seafloor spreading permits magma to rise. The western side is a divergentboundary with...
convergent plate boundaries while basaltic magmatism is found at mid-ocean ridges during sea-floor spreading at divergent plate boundaries. On Earth, magma...
the Indian Plate is a transform boundary with the Arabian Plate called the Owen Fracture Zone, and a divergentboundary with the African Plate called the...
the Iceland hotspot atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which forms the divergentboundary between the North American Plate and the Eurasian Plate. Its highest...
continental crust, resulting in large mountain chains, like the Himalayas. Divergentboundary: the plates move apart from each other. If this occurs on land a rift...
occur mainly in areas where the crust is being extended such as a divergentboundary. Earthquakes associated with normal faults are generally less than...
ridges, where new oceanic crust and lithosphere is created along a divergentboundary between two tectonic plates. Failed rifts are the result of continental...
Compaction simulation Divergentboundary – Linear feature that exists between two tectonic plates that are moving away from each other Divergent double subduction –...
continent as a whole. The western edge of the African Plate is a divergentboundary with the North American Plate to the north and the South American...
West, a left lateral fault boundary with the African Plate called the Dead Sea Transform (DST), and a divergentboundary with the African Plate called...
unique and of particular interest to geologists. Iceland lies on the divergentboundary between the Eurasian plate and the North American plate. It also lies...
The Galapagos Rise is a divergentboundary located between the South American coast and the triple junction of the Nazca Plate, the Cocos Plate, and the...
submarine plate boundaries in this part of the Pacific Ocean (the Pacific–Antarctic Ridge, the East Pacific Rise and the Chile Ridge) are divergent instead of...
transform fault boundary, vertical if along a convergent boundary (i.e. subduction or thrust/reverse faulting) or a divergentboundary (i.e. rift zone...
Islands, forming the Izu–Bonin–Mariana Arc system. There is also a divergentboundary between the Philippine Sea Plate and the small Mariana Plate which...
southern edge of the plate, while a small divergentboundary is located on the eastern edge. Another convergent boundary exists with the Banda Sea Plate to the...
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