Plates converge or scrape past each other

Chapter 1 Lesson 4

Tectonic plates push together at convergent boundaries

Remember: new crust forms at divergent boundaries where plates move apart. At convergent boundaries, plates push together and crust is either folded or destroyed
When 2 plates with continental crust [land] collide, they will crumple and fold the rock between them A plate with older, denser oceanic crust [sea/ocean] will sink beneath another plate This sinking beneath another crust is

3 types of convergent boundaries

Continental Continental Collision

This happens where two plates with continental crust push together.
Because they are of same density, neither can sink beneath the other.

Their edges just crumple and fold.

In some cases, folded crust can be pushed high enough to form mountains [Himalayas and Alps]

Oceanic - Oceanic Subduction

This happens when one plate with oceanic crusts, sinks beneath another plate with oceanic crust.
The older plate sinks because it is colder and denser than the newer one. When the older crust reaches the asthenosphere, it melts and is destroyed.

2 main features form at oceanicoceanic subduction sites: deep-ocean trenches and island arcs.

Oceanic - Oceanic Subduction

They are like deep canyons [think Grand Canyon, but underwater] Most are found in the Pacific Ocean, for example, the Mariana Trench. This is where the Pacific Plate is sinking under the Philippine Plate This is the deepest place in the worlds ocean: 11,000 meters into the sea floor!

Oceanic - Oceanic Subduction

There are arc chains of volcanic islands that form on top of the plate [Philippines, Japan] These arc chains are parallel to a deep-ocean trench [obviously] As oceanic crust melts, magma rises from the top plate. Over time, this creates island arcs.

Oceanic Continental Subduction

This occurs when ocean crust sinks under continental crust. Obviously, the oceanic crust will sink because it is colder and denser
Here, deep-ocean trenches also form, along with coastal mountains.

Oceanic - Continental Subduction

As oceanic crust moves, it causes underwater earthquakes. This is why the west coast of North America is often plagued with earthquakes [California,Alaska, Hawaii, Canada]

As oceanic crust sinks under a continent, the crust buckles to form a range of mountain.
Like island arcs, these mountain ranges are formed parallel to the deep-ocean trench

Review