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EmbassyOfTime In reply to Vixenkiba [2017-05-04 19:52:44 +0000 UTC]

Hehe, never thought of the "shrinking planet" explanation for it! But yes, the plates also move apart... now. This picture was a test that went wrong, before divergent plates were introduced. Now, there are both converging, diverging and transformative(?) plates, although transformative ones do not generate seismic activity at all, they are simply placed that way. True subduction is still not a thing, though.
Come to think of it, didn't some guy once suggest a theory that the continents looked like puzzle pieces because the world was expanding?? Ah, fun times, old ideas....

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Vixenkiba In reply to EmbassyOfTime [2017-05-05 10:24:18 +0000 UTC]

What do you mean with transformative plates? There's three types of plate motion: convergent and divergent, which you already have, and transform where plates grind past each other. They actually are supposed to generate seismic activity, and a lot at that, because they don't grind at a steady rate, but get 'stuck' until the energy builds up to the point where it releases, and the plates will move whole meters. Think of trying to slide your fridge on the floor, this also doesn't happen gradually, but rather abruptly. The San Andreas Fault is the worst transform boundary you can find on Earth, and when it releases energy the result will be disastrous with that huge city right on top...

Ooooh, speaking of puzzles, you will probably like this link: io9.gizmodo.com/heres-what-pan… The guy was right about the puzzle pieces, yet not about the expanding, but hey, it was a start

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EmbassyOfTime In reply to Vixenkiba [2017-05-05 14:42:10 +0000 UTC]

I meant transform plates, like the ones you describe. The terminology is not yet quite solid in my brain, there is just so much of it And yes, transform plates make a mess.... a big mess.....

I love the Pangea puzzle

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