What are the processes and landforms along a divergent boundary?

Along a divergent boundary, tectonic plates move away from each other, leading to the formation of new crust and distinctive underwater mountain ranges.

Processes Along a Divergent Boundary

A divergent plate boundary is characterized by the separation of two tectonic plates. This movement facilitates several geological processes:

• Plate Separation: The fundamental process involves two tectonic plates moving away from each other. This creates a tensional stress on the lithosphere.
• Magma Upwelling: As the plates pull apart, pressure decreases in the underlying mantle, allowing magma to rise from deep within the Earth.
• Volcanic Eruption: This rising magma erupts onto the Earth's surface, most commonly underwater along oceanic divergent boundaries.
• New Crust Formation: The erupted magma cools and solidifies, forming new crust on the lithosphere. This continuous process is known as seafloor spreading.

Landforms Along a Divergent Boundary

The processes at divergent boundaries create specific landforms, primarily in oceanic settings:

• New Crust: The most fundamental landform is the continuous generation of new oceanic crust.
• Submarine Mountain Ranges: Most divergent plate boundaries are found underwater and form vast submarine mountain ranges.
• Oceanic Spreading Ridges: These submarine mountain ranges are specifically called oceanic spreading ridges. They are extensive underwater mountain systems where new oceanic crust is generated by the spreading of the seafloor.

Summary of Processes and Landforms at Divergent Boundaries

For more information, you can refer to resources on plate tectonic boundaries, such as those provided by NOAA Ocean Explorer.