geo wa2

• Divergent plate boundaries


  1. Plates move away from each other

  2. Results in mid-oceanic ridges, volcanoes including submarine volcanoes and volcanic islands, rift systems and earthquakes
• Convergent plate boundaries


  1. Plates move towards each other

  2. Results in fold mountains, volcanoes including submarine volcanoes, oceanic trenches and earthquakes
• Transform plate boundaries


  1. Plates slide past each other

  2. Results in faults and earthquakes
• Tectonic processes of earthquakes

  1. Stress builds up and exceeds strength of the fault

  2. Sudden release of seismic waves, radiating energy from the focus
• Magnitude of earthquakes


  Affected by amount of energy released through ground movement
• Measuring earthquakes


  • Richter Scale measures local magnitude of earthquakes
  • Moment Magnitude Scale measures larger earthquakes more reliably
• Distribution of earthquakes


  • Along all plate boundaries
  • Largest concentration at the Pacific Ring of Fire
• Earthquake hazards


  • Ground shaking, soil liquefaction, landslides and tsunamis
• Impacts of earthquakes


  • Destroying ecosystems, properties and infrastructure
  • Disrupting services
  • Causing injury and loss of life