KS2KS3GCSE
Tectonic Processes
Plate Tectonics, Earthquakes & Volcanoes
Plate BoundariesEarthquakesVolcanoesHazard Management
Plate Boundaries
Constructive (Divergent)
Interactive animation of plate movement.
Constructive (Divergent)
Plates move apart. Magma rises to fill the gap, creating new crust.
Key Features
- Mid-ocean ridges
- Rift valleys
- Shield volcanoes
- Gentle earthquakes
Real World Example:
Mid-Atlantic Ridge (Iceland)
Earthquakes
Sudden violent shaking of the ground, typically causing great destruction, as a result of movements within the earth's crust or volcanic action.
- • Measured using Moment Magnitude Scale
- • Focus (underground) vs Epicentre (surface)
- • Primary hazards: Ground shaking
- • Secondary hazards: Tsunamis, liquefaction
Volcanoes
A mountain or hill having a crater or vent through which lava, rock fragments, hot vapor, and gas are or have been erupted from the earth's crust.
- • Shield vs Composite volcanoes
- • Effusive vs Explosive eruptions
- • Primary hazards: Lava flows, ash clouds
- • Secondary hazards: Lahars (mudflows)