Plate divergence is best described as a taphrogenic process. This term refers to the movement of lithospheric plates away from each other.
1. Plate divergence occurs at divergent boundaries where two tectonic plates move apart.
2. As the plates separate, magma from the mantle rises up to fill the gap, solidifies, and creates new crust. This process is known as seafloor spreading.
3. An example of plate divergence is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge where the Eurasian Plate and North American Plate are moving away from each other, leading to the formation of new oceanic crust.
Therefore, in the context of plate tectonics, plate divergence is best described as a taphrogenic process where plates move apart at divergent boundaries.
