Explain what happens at a divergent plate boundary.  Given an example of where we can find a divergent boundary on land.View keyboard shortcutsEditViewInsertFormatToolsTable12ptParagraph

A divergent plate boundary is a location where two tectonic plates are moving away from each other. This movement is caused by the convection currents that roll over in the upper zone of the mantle. This process is also known as seafloor spreading.

Here's a step-by-step explanation of what happens at a divergent plate boundary:

1. The convection currents in the mantle rise and spread out beneath the earth's crust. This creates a gap or a rift.

2. As the plates move apart, magma rises from the mantle to fill the gap. This magma then cools and solidifies to form new crust. This is why divergent boundaries are also known as constructive boundaries because they build new land.

3. Over time, the continual process of spreading and new crust formation can lead to the development of rift valleys, underwater mountain ranges (like mid-ocean ridges), and even new ocean basins.

4. If the divergent boundary occurs on land, it can lead to the formation of a rift valley. If it occurs under the ocean, it can create a mid-ocean ridge.

An example of a divergent boundary on land is the East African Rift Valley. It's a location where the African Plate is rifting into the Somali and Nubian plates. This process is creating a new ocean basin and, over geologic time, this will eventually lead to the splitting of the African continent.