How earthquakes and volcanoes are related to movement of plates?

How earthquakes and volcanoes are related to movement of plates?

As plates move, they get stuck in places, and enormous amounts of energy build up. When the plates finally get unstuck and move past each other, the energy is released in the form of earthquakes. Earthquakes and volcanoes are common features along tectonic plate boundaries, making these zones geologically very active.

Why are earthquakes associated with plate tectonics?

Earthquakes occur along fault lines, cracks in Earth’s crust where tectonic plates meet. They occur where plates are subducting, spreading, slipping, or colliding. As the plates grind together, they get stuck and pressure builds up. Finally, the pressure between the plates is so great that they break loose.

Why earthquakes volcanic activity and tsunamis are associated with plate boundaries?

The outer rigid shell is broken into mobile plates, whose migration and interaction is referred to as ‘plate tectonics’. Sporadic grinding action between plates as they move causes most of the large earthquakes. Thus volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis are part of the same story.

Why are earthquakes associated with volcanoes?

Volcanically-caused long period earthquakes are produced by vibrations generated by the movement of magma or other fluids within the volcano. Pressure within the system increases and the surrounding rock fails, creating small earthquakes.

Which movements result in the volcanic eruptions and earthquakes?

Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are the result of physical processes. Plate tectonics theory. The crust is broken up into large slabs called tectonic plates. These plates float on the semi-molten rock of the mantle and are moved around by convection currents.

How the movement of tectonic plates creates volcanic landforms?

Volcanoes and ridges are landforms that are created by the movement of tectonic plates. Some volcanoes are formed when the plates pull apart under the ocean. Other volcanoes are created when a tectonic plate slides under another. As the bottom plate is heated up by the Earth’s hot mantle, a material called magma forms.

Why do volcanoes erupt tectonic plates?

On land, volcanoes form when one tectonic plate moves under another. Usually a thin, heavy oceanic plate subducts, or moves under, a thicker continental plate. When enough magma builds up in the magma chamber, it forces its way up to the surface and erupts, often causing volcanic eruptions.