Recent GPS measurements show the Himalayas rising 5mm annually. Plate tectonic theory explains how crustal mass movements continuously reshape Earth's continents and ocean basins over geological time.

Tectonic Movements Affecting Continental Shape and Size

Divergent Boundaries - Continental Separation

• Continental Rifting: Crust stretches and breaks, creating rift valleys and new oceans. Example: East African Rift System stretching 6,000 km from Red Sea to Mozambique, creating new oceanic basins
• Seafloor Spreading: At mid-ocean ridges (e.g., Mid-Atlantic Ridge), new crust forms, pushing continents apart. Example: Mid-Atlantic Ridge expanding at 2.5 cm/year, separating Americas from Europe-Africa
• Basin Formation: Red Sea formed 30 million years ago through Arabian Peninsula separation from Africa
• Crustal Thinning: Creates rift valleys like Lake Baikal (world's deepest freshwater lake)
• New Ocean Creation: Atlantic Ocean formation through Pangaea breakup 175 million years ago

Convergent Boundaries - Continental Collision and Growth

• Mountain Building: Collision of continental plates deforms landmasses causing rise of mountains. Himalayas formed through Indo-Australian plate collision with Eurasian plate 50 million years ago
• Continental Accretion: Western North America growth through terranes addition from Pacific Ocean
• Crustal Thickening: Tibetan Plateau elevation increase to 4,500m average through compression
• Subduction Effects: Oceanic plates subduct beneath continental plates, shrinking ocean basins.Example: Andes Mountains formation through Nazca Plate subduction beneath South American Plate
• Volcanic Addition: Japan's land area expansion through volcanic island arc formation

Tectonic Movements Affecting Ocean Basin Configuration

Ocean Basin Evolution

• Basin Creation: Arctic Ocean formation through Eurasian-North American plate separation
• Deep Trench Formation: Mariana Trench (11,034m deep) through Pacific Plate subduction
• Basin Closure: Mediterranean Sea shrinking through African-Eurasian plate convergence
• Sediment Accumulation: Bay of Bengal depth reduction through Ganges-Brahmaputra delta deposition
• Volcanic Island Formation: Hawaiian Islands through Pacific Plate movement over hotspot

Modern satellite geodesy and GPS technology confirm these ongoing processes, demonstrating Earth's dynamic nature through initiatives like India's National Centre for Seismology monitoring system.