Earth Science Interrelationship
...or plates are the Pacific plate, Caribbean plate, North America plate, Eurasian plate and the Antarctic plate to name a few. The theory of plate tectonics was developed to explain the movement of the Earth’s plates and how this movement can cause earthquakes and volcanoes as well as mountain ranges and oceanic trenches. There are three types of plate movement: divergence, convergence and lateral slipping. Divergence is when two plates move away from each other. This type of movement occurs usually under the ocean and is called seafloor spreading. Convergence is when two plates collide with each other. When two plates (either oceanic or continental) slide against each other in a lateral movement, a large amount of friction is created and builds until it is no longer bearable. ...