When plate tectonics causes plates to move, what happens?

1 Answer
Oct 5, 2017

The movement of crustal plates due to Plate Tectonics causes earthquakes.

Explanation:

As two plates converge and push against each other pressure is created that is released through crustal movements known as earthquakes.

The best known of these types of earthquakes occur along the San Andreses fault in California. This fault is a transverse fault line where the Pacific plate is rubbing against the North American Plate. The Pacific plate is moving north while the North American Plate is moving south creating a visible fault line where the two plates collide.

Subduction zones where an Oceanic plate is colliding with a continental plate and being pushed under the continental crust creating pressure. The pressure causes the formation of mountains, volcanos and earthquakes.

Most earthquakes occur along the fault boundaries of two Tectonic Plates that are moving in opposite directions to each other.