Which process occurs at divergent boundaries?

At divergent boundaries, tectonic plates move apart from each other. This movement occurs due to the upwelling of magma from the mantle, which causes new crust to form as it cools and solidifies at the surface. This process typically creates oceanic ridges, such as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the ocean floor is continuously being created as the plates pull away from each other.

This divergence allows for the continuous generation of new material in the form of volcanic activity, contributing to the overall dynamics of the Earth’s lithosphere. As the plates separate, it also leads to the formation of rift valleys and can cause moderate seismic activity. Such geological processes are foundational to the understanding of plate tectonics and the various types of movements that characterize different boundary interactions.