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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.
Learn how the Earth's lithosphere is made of moving tectonic plates that form three types of boundaries: divergent, convergent, and transform. Divergent boundaries occur when two plates move apart, creating new oceanic crust, while convergent boundaries occur when two plates collide, creating mountains, volcanoes, and deep trenches.
Learn how plates move apart above rising convection currents and create different features depending on the type of lithosphere. See examples of divergent boundaries in the ocean and on land, and explore satellite images of rifts and mid-ocean ridges.
Learn how divergent plate boundaries form new crust and oceanic ridges, and how they affect the Earth's surface and history. Watch a video and read comments from students and teachers on this topic.
At divergent boundaries, sometimes called constructive boundaries, lithospheric plates move away from each other. There are two types of divergent boundaries, categorized by where they occur: continental rift zones and mid-ocean ridges.
Jan 17, 2020 · Learn how divergent boundaries occur where tectonic plates move apart from each other, forming new lithosphere and magma. Explore examples of divergent zones in the ocean and on land, and how they affect Earth's history and geology.
Divergent boundaries are spreading boundaries, where new oceanic crust is created to fill in the space as the plates move apart. Most divergent boundaries are located along mid-ocean oceanic ridges (although some are on land).
