What occurs in a divergent plate boundary?

In a divergent plate boundary, tectonic plates move away from each other. This movement can result in the creation of new oceanic crust as magma rises from below the Earth's surface to fill the gap between the separating plates. As the plates diverge, they often create a rift, leading to the formation of features such as mid-ocean ridges, which are underwater mountain ranges.

The process of divergence not only creates new crust but can also lead to geological phenomena such as earthquakes and volcanic activity in these regions, due to the movement of tectonic plates and the rise of magma. The key characteristic of a divergent boundary is that it facilitates the continuous cycling of Earth's crust, contributing to the tectonic activity that reshapes our planet over geological time. This distinct movement differentiates it from convergent boundaries, where plates come together and collide, or transform boundaries, where plates slide past one another.