Why There Have Been So Many Earthquakes Lately
Friday, April 2, 2010 - 21:35
in Earth & Climate
Actually, there is an explanation for this. What most people don't realize is that 1) the oceanic plate being subducted at convergent plate boundaries is much denser and thicker than the oceanic plate being created at divergent plate boundaries. 2) the plates move greater distances and thus at a faster rate at convergent plate boundaries than they do at divergent plate boundaries. 3) there is resistance to plate movement at convergent plate boundaries because the oceanic plates being subducted are grinding against a continental plate. Not so at divergent plate boundaries. There, the resistance is very little. read more