Final answer:
Geological features like mid-ocean ridges, rift valleys, and volcanic activity are created at divergent boundaries; mountain ranges, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions are created at convergent boundaries; and earthquakes at transform boundaries. The motion and interactions of tectonic plates shape these features over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relative motion of lithospheric plates can lead to the formation of various geological features. Depending on the type of boundary and movement, distinctive landforms and events may occur. Here are examples for each kind of plate boundary motion:
- Divergent boundaries: At divergent boundaries, where plates are moving apart, features such as mid-ocean ridges, rift valleys, and volcanic activity often occur. This is due to the upwelling of magma from the mantle to fill the gap created by the separating plates.
- Convergent boundaries: Convergent boundaries, where plates move towards each other, can result in mountain building (e.g., the Alps), earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. This happens when one plate is forced under another in a process known as subduction, often creating a trench in the ocean or mountain ranges on land.
- Transform boundaries: At transform boundaries, plates slide past each other horizontally, leading to earthquakes due to the friction and locking of the plates until they eventually slip. The San Andreas Fault in California is a classic example of a transform boundary.
These processes are driven by tectonic geological features resulting from stresses and pressures within Earth's crust and can greatly influence the planet's topography over geological timescales.