What event will most likely occur at a divergent plate boundary

Geography · High School · Tue Nov 03 2020

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At a divergent plate boundary, the most likely event to occur is the formation of new oceanic crust through a process called seafloor spreading.

Divergent boundaries are characterized by tectonic plates moving away from each other. This movement creates a gap or rift in the Earth's crust.


Here's what typically happens at divergent plate boundaries:


1. Magma Upwelling: As the tectonic plates move apart, magma from the mantle rises to fill the gap, forming a mid-ocean ridge or rift.

2. Magma Solidification: The magma, when exposed to the cold ocean water, solidifies to form new oceanic crust.

3. Creation of New Ocean Floor: This continuous process results in the creation of new oceanic crust along the boundary. Over time, the ocean floor spreads outward from the mid-ocean ridge.


A well-known example of a divergent plate boundary is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge runs down the center of the Atlantic Ocean, and as the tectonic plates on either side move apart, new oceanic crust is continuously formed. Divergent boundaries are also associated with earthquakes and volcanic activity, although the latter is often less explosive compared to volcanic activity at convergent boundaries.