What occurs at transform plate boundaries?

At transform plate boundaries, plates slide past each other horizontally. This lateral movement occurs without the creation or destruction of the crust, which distinguishes it from other types of plate boundaries. The friction that develops as the edges of the plates grind against one another can lead to powerful earthquakes, as the stress builds up until it is released suddenly.

This type of boundary is common in locations like the San Andreas Fault in California, where the movement of the North American Plate and the Pacific Plate can cause significant seismic activity. The interaction at transform boundaries exemplifies how tectonic processes can influence geological features and events, highlighting the dynamic nature of Earth's crust.