Transform boundaries (also called transform faults) are places where two tectonic plates slide horizontally past one another. They accommodate lateral motion and connect other plate boundary types, such as spreading ridges or subduction zones. The best-known example is the San Andreas Fault system in California, where the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate slide past each other. Key points
- Where they are found: Most transform boundaries exist on the ocean floor, offsetting mid-ocean ridges as plates move apart; a smaller number occur on continents (e.g., the San Andreas in California, the North Anatolian Fault in Turkey) and can produce significant earthquakes.
- How they work: They are a type of conservative plate boundary, meaning there is little to no creation or destruction of lithosphere at the boundary itself; motion is primarily shear (lateral) rather than vertical or subduction-related.
- Relationship to other boundaries: Transform boundaries often connect two spreading centers or, less commonly, link a spreading center with a subduction zone, forming zigzag patterns along the plate mosaic.
- Notable examples: San Andreas Fault (Pacific–North American plates), Alpine fault in New Zealand, and the strike-slip boundaries that trace along continental margins.
If you’d like, I can tailor a brief map-guided overview of transform boundaries by region (e.g., North America, South America, Africa–Arabian region, Oceania) or provide a glossary of related terms (transform fault, strike-slip, conservative boundary) with quick definitions.
