Question

How does accretion add to the surface area of a continent?

Answer 1

The surface area of a continent increases due to the rapid accumulation of sediments. The more is the sediment amount deposited, the more is its area. This particles gets deposited due to the weathering and erosion of the rocks at different places by the agents such as air, water and wind.

In addition to that, the converging plate movements also helped in increasing its height and area.

Thus, this processes adds the materials to the total continental crust, thereby increases its surface area.

Answer 2

Accretion is a process by which material is added to a tectonic plate or a landmass. This material may be sediment, volcanic arcs, seamounts or other igneous features. There are two types of geologic accretion—plate accretion and landmass accretion. The Plate accretion involves the addition of material to a tectonic plate. The Landmass accretion involves the addition of sediment to a coastline or riverbank, increasing land area.