It is classified as a right lateral (dextral) strike-slip fault. Although both plates are moving in a north westerly direction, the Pacific Plate is moving faster than the North American Plate, so the relative movement of the North American Plate is to the south east.
Which tectonic plate is moving the fastest?
Rates of motion
These average rates of plate separations can range widely. The Arctic Ridge has the slowest rate (less than 2.5 cm/yr), and the East Pacific Rise near Easter Island, in the South Pacific about 3,400 km west of Chile, has the fastest rate (more than 15 cm/yr).
Why is the Pacific plate so active?
The abundance of magma so near to Earth’s surface gives rise to conditions ripe for volcanic activity. A significant exception is the border between the Pacific and North American Plates. … This type of boundary generates a large number of earthquakes as tension in Earth’s crust builds up and is released.
Why do some plates move faster?
It means that it is the subducting plate which controls the velocity of the plate’s movement. And the rate at which a plate sinks depends mostly on its age/temperature/density: older plates are cooler/denser, thus they sink at a higher velocity than younger plates.
What is the Pacific plate known for?
The Pacific Plate is an oceanic tectonic plate that lies beneath the Pacific Ocean. At 103 million km2 (40 million sq mi), it is the largest tectonic plate. The Pacific Plate contains an interior hot spot forming the Hawaiian Islands.
How fast do tectonic plates move?
They move at a rate of one to two inches (three to five centimeters) per year.
Can Pangea happen again?
The answer is yes. Pangea wasn’t the first supercontinent to form during Earth’s 4.5-billion-year geologic history, and it won’t be the last.
Is it safe to live on the Ring of Fire?
Many people risk living on or near volcanoes because the soil is good for farming. Volcanoes are also popular tourist attractions, which can help build up the local economy. Earthquakes can cause serious structural damage to buildings and can be deadly to citizens, especially during the aftershocks.
What is the largest tectonic plate?
California is located at the seam of the Pacific Plate, which is the world’s largest plate at 39,768,522 square miles, and the Northern American plate.
How much do plates move in an earthquake?
These plates are constantly moving (albeit very slowly) at rates up to four inches per year (10 cm/yr) although most rates of travel are considerably less. Also, the rate of travel varies at different locations within each plate. The world’s major tectonic plates.
What plates are moving slower?
The Pacific, Nazca, Cocos, and Indian plates are moving faster than the slower moving North American, South American, and Antarctic plates.
What causes the Nazca plate to move?
The Nazca Plate is moving eastwards, towards the South American Plate, at about 79mm per year. The friction between the plates prevents the subducting oceanic plate from sliding smoothly. … As it descends, it drags against the overlying plate, causing both to fracture and deform.
What would happen if the tectonic plates continue to move?
Plate tectonics moves the continents around on a scale of 100s of millions of year. … Plate tectonics also has an impact on longer-term climate patterns and these will change over time. It also changes ocean current patterns, heat distribution over the planet, and the evolution and speciation of animals.
What is the future of the Pacific plate?
The Pacific Plate is moving to the northwest at a speed of between 7 and 11 centimeters (cm) or ~3-4 inches a year. The North American plate is moving to the west-southwest at about 2.3 cm (~1 inch) per year driven by the spreading center that created the Atlantic Ocean, the Mid Atlantic Ridge.
Why is Hawaii moving towards Japan?
Hawaii is moving towards Japan at the speed of 10cm a year. This is because they are on different tectonic plates.
How many plates lie under the Pacific Ocean?
Plates that are under the Pacific Ocean include : the Pacific plate, the Nazca Plate, The Cocos Plate, The Juan de Fuca plate, the Philippine Plate and a part of the Indo-Australian Plate.