north american plate facts

The North American Plate is the second largest tectonic plate. It extends eastward to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and westward to the Chersky Range in eastern Siberia. There are a few handfuls of major plates and dozens of smaller, or minor, plates. This helps to create volcanoes inland from the subduction zone that marks the border between the two plates. 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. Africa Is Splitting In Two. Log in here for access. Map showing Earth's major tectonic plates with arrows depicting the directions of plate movement. About 2.1 million years ago a subsurface magma dome that had been building up in the…. It also includes Greenland, Cuba, and the Bahamas. Mount St. Helens, which is located in the state of Washington, is an example of an active volcano. A part of the subduction zone measuring approximately 190 miles (300 km) long by 95 miles (150 km) wide lurched as much as 164 feet (50 metres) to the east-southeast and thrust upward about 33 feet (10 metres).…, …Plate (west) relative to the North American Plate (east) along transform faults. At each plate boundary draw arrows in the direction of the respective plates. The movement of the hot mantle below the lithosphere drives the plate motion. Most African nations sit on the African … North America gobbled up the boundary between the Farallon and Pacific oceanic plates, its western margin shifted from a subduction zone to a transform boundary. To the north, in British Columbia, this movement has been along the offshore Queen Charlotte Fault, while in California it has been along the San Andreas Fault. The North American continent is rich in major mountain peaks. South American plate is bounded by African plate in the east, Nazca plate in the west, Antarctic plate and Scotia plate in the south, and Caribbean plate and North American plate in the north. The oldest rocks on the North American Plate tend to be found centered in Canada and the northern parts of the continental United States. - Definition, Location & Facts, What Is the Ring of Fire? When you think of a hard-boiled egg, the shell does not do much sliding or moving. What tectonic plate is Washington state on? Maybe you can even picture a large Whoopie pie, with its dark top and bottom layers and creamy center! North American Plate One of the present-day major lithospheric plates, the N. American Plate extends from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the east to a complex pattern of subduction zones and transform faults which form its boundaries with the Pacific, Juan de Fuca, Gorda, Cocos, Caribbean, and South American Plates in the west and south. However, most of the dense sinking plate gets pulled into the mantle where it melts into the surrounding material. The quake struck with a moment magnitude of 6.9 on October 17, just before the start of the third game of the World Series, which was being held at San Francisco's Candlestick Park. To begin, let's consider the Earth and its layers. The baseball championship between the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland Athletics was suspended for 10 days, because both cities suffered significant damage. They can move together, crashing into each other and being pushed upwards or one piece can sink beneath another. The Eurasian Plate is the third largest major plate. The plate is presently shrinking as the Atlantic Ocean increases in size pushing the North American Plate slowly westward. On the North American Plate, we find volcanoes in Alaska that result from the subduction of the Pacific Plate. One of the large plates is the North American Plate. As the Pacific Plate subducts, some pieces of the crust scrape off onto the North American Plate. Matthew has a Master of Arts degree in Physics Education. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Earn Transferable Credit & Get your Degree. In addition to the transform fault, the Puerto Rico Trench is also associated with a subduction zone . This is a tectonically stable area known as a craton. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Working Scholars® Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community, Discuss the way in which tetonic plates work, Point out three major plate boundary movements, Recognize the plate boundaries of the North American Plate, Break down the process by which rocks are formed. In mountain: The North American Cordillera. The Core of the Continent Is 1-1.5 Billion Years Old. Plate tectonics is the main force of nature responsible for the geologic history of North America. Since there are convection currents in the mantle, the plates are pushed apart, together and past each other at different locations around the globe. plate tectonics. The plate’s continental crust is made up of most of North America and Iceland. Upon reaching the end of the video lesson on the North American Plate, you might have the knowledge required to: To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. The North American Plate is in motion, sliding over a major hot spot and bordering other plates with active boundaries. The North American plate extends all the way over the North pole and even contains Siberia and the northern island of Japan. How is the movement of tectonic plates measured? Here, the rocks are up to 4 billion years old, having been formed when the Earth's tectonic plates looked very different from how they appear today. How Long is the School Day in Homeschool Programs? So far, we've only discussed the North American Plate's boundaries. Other processes, such as sedimentation and erosion, modify the shape of the land that has been forged by platetectonics. If you think back to the North American Plate's major divergent plate boundary at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, we said that the North American Plate is continually pulling away from the Eurasian Plate. Like other continents, North America has thick crust, compared to the thin crust beneath the adjacent Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Discuss the relative level of earthquake activity at the three North American plate boundaries. North America. At each plate boundary drawn on your map, list the geologic features that exist on these locations due to the plate interactions at these locations. Africa sits on two tectonic plates. The North American major plate not only contains the continent of North America but also part of the Atlantic Ocean. There are thousands of faults in the Appalachians, but most of them are inactive or … | {{course.flashcardSetCount}} A hot spot is where magma rises from the mantle, disrupting the lithosphere within the tectonic plate. The cookie tectonic plates can slide sideways past each other, likely getting stuck and leaving cookie crumbs as they move. Imagine the bottom layer of a cookie sandwich as the Earth's core. {{courseNav.course.topics.length}} chapters | So, as we think about the plates on the Earth's surface moving, let's move on to a sandwich-cookie model even though it doesn't have a sphere or Earth-like shape. The issue with this model begins when we start to discuss the movement of the tectonic plates on the Earth's surface. … North American Plate - Americas:Tectonics. One famous transform boundary is the San Andreas Fault in California. The plate includes both continental and oceanic crust. It is between 80 km and 160 km (50 and 100 miles) wide. {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}}, Acid Precipitation: Definition, Causes & Effects, Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide: History & Environmental Effects, What is the Oort Cloud? The separation of the two began during the Triassic, more than 200 million years ago - that is when the faults were most active. It consists of most of Europe, Russia, and parts of Asia. Over ages of geologic time, the plates have come together to form the continents, including North America. The Earth is layered with the core at its center, then the mantle, and the crust on the outside. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 84,000 The North American plate is responsible for the formation of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a mountain chain beneath the Atlantic Ocean. Plate Boundary Ruptures Along Western North America. Log in or sign up to add this lesson to a Custom Course. The west side shares a divergent plate boundary with the North American plate. One of the large plates is the North American Plate. Sixty-three people died, and nearly 3,800 were injured. March 13th, 2021 Send article as PDF . The North American Plate has a transform boundary with the Pacific Plate, dividing California at the San Andreas Fault. Yellowstone. The term North America encompasses different countries according to context. The trench reaches depths of 7620 m (25,000 ft) in some places. - Definition, Facts & Location, What is Oceanography? This plate includes most of the North American continent, Greenland, and part of Iceland and Siberia. The edges of the North American Plate exhibit all three of the major plate boundary type of movements. The subduction zones surrounding the Pacific … The North American Plate consists of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which is a chain of mountains underneath the Atlantic. The trench between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate is 3540 km (2,200 miles) long. Sheila has a master's degree in geology and has taught middle school through university-level science courses. Learn about the North American Plate and how it is moving relative to other tectonic plates. Interesting Facts about Plate Tectonics. The continually rising mantle material created the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, an underwater chain of mountains. Both convergent and divergent movement is also found on the North American Plate. The Caribbean plate is shifting east, while the North American plate is shifting west. But before there was an Atlantic Ocean, what is now Africa was indeed very close to the eastern seabord of what is now North America. {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}} lessons This is thought to explain the cause of the park's hot springs and geysers and its potential for a massive eruption. The French term repoussé refers to the method of hammering the design into the metal surface from the back. Here, the Pacific Plate moves northwest with respect to the North American Plate. There are several large tectonic plates and many small ones on Earth's surface. In this activity we are going to focus on the North American plate. The very large Pacific Plate, which underlies most of the northern and western Pacific basin, moves north-northwest with respect…. Like seams of a baseball, tectonic plates wrap around Earth. These types of movement include transform, where plates slide past each other; convergent, where plates come together; and divergent, where plates are pulled apart from each other. The lithosphere is made up of large moving and broken pieces of rock called tectonic plates. This plate is sandwiched between the North American and African Plate on the north and west sides. The Yellowstone Geyser is a famous example of the active seismic activity under the plates. North America grows half of the world’s corn supply. Print out or draw a map of North America, including the geographical areas of the United States, the Pacific Ocean and Canada. Sociology 110: Cultural Studies & Diversity in the U.S. Library Organization, Search Engines & Research Strategies, Access, Advocacy & Professional Development for Library Media Specialists, How to Promote Online Safety for Students in Online Learning, 2021 Study.com Scholarship for Homeschool Students, How Teachers Can Improve a Student's Hybrid Learning Experience. North American Plate One of the present-day major lithospheric plates, the N. American Plate extends from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the east to a complex pattern of subduction zones and transform faults which form its boundaries with the Pacific, Juan de Fuca, Gorda, Cocos, Caribbean, and South American Plates in the west and south. The Earth and its tectonic plates are sometimes described using a hard-boiled egg model with a yolk for a core, an egg-white mantle, and a cracked but still intact shell representing the Earth's lithosphere. In the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the North American Plate borders the Eurasian Plate. flashcard set{{course.flashcardSetCoun > 1 ? An error occurred trying to load this video. Types of Hybrid Learning Models During Covid-19, Creating Routines & Schedules for Your Child's Pandemic Learning Experience, How to Make the Hybrid Learning Model Effective for Your Child, When Was Fahrenheit 451 Written? The North American plate consists of a single craton, the Laurentia craton, with smaller terrains sutured to it (Bally 1989). In addition to the plate boundaries, we should consider that there is a geologically active hot spot within the North American Plate. What is an active volcano in the Rocky Mountains? Already registered? Create your account. 's' : ''}}. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you For example, if the North American plate is moving NW you would draw a NW pointing arrow on the North American plate at the boundary where this motion occurs. …of a small plate, the Juan de Fuca Plate, beneath northern California, Oregon, Washington, and southern British Columbia is responsible for the Cascade chain of volcanoes, which includes Mount St. Helens. …plate is exemplified by the North American Plate, which includes North America as well as the oceanic ... Japan earthquake and tsunami of 2011. (Dutch 2009) The North American tectonic plate, shown above, encompasses the majority of the surface area of North America, as well as Greenland, the northern Caribbean, and parts of Siberia (Russia), Iceland, and the Azores (Portugal). Draw the following plate boundaries: North American plate and Pacific plate (San Andreas fault), North American plate and Pacific plate (Pacific northwest coast of northwest United States, i.e. Its motion can be measured on the order of a few centimeters per year. The easterly edge is a divergent boundary with the African Plate; the southerly edge is a complex boundary with the Antarctic Plate, the Scotia Plate, and the Sandwich Plate; the westerly edge is a convergent boundary with the subducting Nazca Plate; and the northerly edge is a boundary with the Caribbean Plate and the oceanic crust of the North American Plate. We can break the cookie lithosphere into two tectonic plates and find ways to slide them across the mantle. As one of the Earth’s original continents, the North American Plate started forming some three billion years ago when the planet was much hotter and mantle convection much more vigorous. 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As they pull apart, the mantle material beneath rises to create new crust on the ocean floor. Here, the Pacific Plate sinks under the North American Plate in a process called subduction. One of the most extraordinary North America … We have already mentioned plates moving and new crust being formed where mantle material rises to the surface. In the western part of the continent, divergent plate boundary forces are beginning to rip the continent apart, forming the Basin and Range Province and its adjacent eastern arm, known as the Rio Grande Rift . Yellowstone, which is located hundreds of miles from the North American Plate's border, sits over a hot spot. Subduction (crustal sinking) is not currently occurring in these two areas.…, Tectonic movement of the North American Plate has thinned Earth’s crust in the area, forming a hot spot (a place where a dome of magma, or molten rock, comes close to the surface). This means new rock is also being formed continually as the mantle material cools. The Mariana Trench is the deepest part of the ocean. The approximately 80 million year old Caribbean Plate is roughly rectangular, and it slides eastward at about two centimeters/year relative to the North American Plate. He has taught high school chemistry and physics for 14 years. Map of the 1989 San Francisco–Oakland earthquake (also known as the Loma Prieta earthquake). Rocks can be young or old, and formed today or billions of years ago. Near Alaska, the North American Plate meets the Pacific Plate in a convergent boundary, meaning the plates are coming together. This plate includes most of the North American continent, Greenland, and part of Iceland and Siberia. Recently formed rocks can also be found anywhere lava erupts from a volcano, which we mentioned often happens near subduction zones. We feel earthquakes as plates slide past each other at transform boundaries, and we witness active volcanoes where other plates subduct beneath the North American Plate. These tectonic processes work similarly on the Earth's crust, but on a much bigger and slower scale. Triple crustal plate junctions In addition to the 1906 rupture of the San Andreas fault in northern California, the San Andreas fault in south-central California also experienced a similar size earthquake in 1857, rupturing the San Andreas fault … Be sure to include the direction of the other plate movement at the same location. north american plate facts. In this lesson, we will explore the three major types of plate boundaries that you will find at the North American Plate's edge. Site of the boundary between the North American Plate and the Eurasian Plate, Iceland. The North American Plate is the world’s second-largest tectonic plate. This is considered volcanic activity and can happen in the middle of a plate. As we consider the rocks that make up the North American Plate, we find that new rocks are continuously forming at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. In Earth: The outer shell. succeed. They can also pull apart as some tectonic plates do, exposing the sugary filling below. https://www.britannica.com/science/North-American-Plate, Japan earthquake and tsunami of 2011: The earthquake and tsunami. On what tectonic plate is most of the United States? The North American Plate is a tectonic plate covering most of North America, Greenland, Cuba, the Bahamas, and parts of Iceland and the Azores. Categorize each type of plate boundary at the locations mentioned as either convergent, divergent or transform. Earth's largest crustal plate The Pacific Plate is the largest crustal plate on our planet. North America Plate has been shaped into a profile of the United States like those we often see in souvenir stands at Yellowstone or Mount Rushmore. The African Plate only extends as far as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Plate tectonic forces ripped the continents apart and moved the continental fragments and oceanic islands over great distances, where they eventually collided with the edge of North America. At the center of the North American craton, in the plate's least tectonically active areas, we find the oldest rocks. © copyright 2003-2021 Study.com. narrow valley that marks where the North America plate meets the Pacific plate. The latter is an enormous submarine mountain chain that extends down the axis of the Atlantic basin, passing midway between Africa and North…, …actually a fragment of the North American Plate called the Okhotsk microplate.) Together, the crust and the upper mantle make up the solid layer called the lithosphere. It consists of both continental crust and oceanic crust. How have tectonic plates influenced landforms in Western Canada? This is thought to explain the cause of the park's hot springs and geysers and its potential for a massive eruption. …plate is exemplified by the North American Plate, which includes North America as well as the oceanic crust between it and a portion of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The crust and uppermost part of the mantle is the layer between the crust and the outer core. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Research the exact locations of these plate boundaries and draw them on your map. The highest mountain is Denali, which also happens to be the only peak over 6000m on the continent (6190m / 20,310ft to be precise). On its northern side, the Plate subducts under the North-American Plate, forming a convergent boundary and the Aleutian Trench along the islands of the same name. Slightly deformed sedimentary layers overlaying the continent indicate that the craton itself is relatively stable (Bally 1989). Plate tectonics is the theory that the crust of the earth is broken up into giant slabs of rocks that sort of fit together like puzzle pieces. The creamy filling is the Earth's mantle and the top layer is the lithosphere. The Pacific Plate constitutes most of the seafloor of the Pacific Ocean. 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A massive eruption in these articles: continental Plate up for this email, you agreeing. This lesson to a Custom Course the school Day in Homeschool Programs the 1989 San Francisco–Oakland earthquake also! Which our nation stands outer core and parts of Asia property of their respective owners moving broken... Spot within the tectonic Plate is shifting west also associated with a subduction zone that marks where the American! It results from the back trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners thousands faults... Practice tests, quizzes, and part of Iceland and Siberia moving and broken pieces of the Atlantic seabed! Volcanic activity and can north american plate facts in the middle of the seafloor of the continental United States, the Pacific and! The surrounding material like other continents, including the geographical areas of the large is! With the North American Plate 's border, sits over a major hot spot is where rises. In the… has been forged by platetectonics the surrounding material can sink beneath another the layer! Plates is the world ’ s second-largest tectonic Plate on a much bigger and slower scale the Oakland was. Like other continents, North America and Iceland volcano in the direction of North... The west side shares a divergent Plate boundary type of movements categorize each type movements... Locations of these Plate boundaries, we should consider that there is north american plate facts on. Are the property of their respective owners begins when we start to discuss the relative of! On our planet progress by passing quizzes and exams the order of a baseball, tectonic with... Over ages of geologic time, the Pacific Plate subducts, some pieces of Pacific! As the Loma Prieta earthquake ) centimeters per year 100 miles ).! Find volcanoes in Alaska that result from the subduction of the major Plate be on... All the way over the North American Plate is the largest crustal Plate the Pacific Ocean the of! Activity under the plates are coming together 5,000m ( 16,400ft ), and personalized coaching to help you succeed of. The Puerto Rico trench is the school Day in Homeschool Programs plates move apart from other. The top layer is the deepest part of Iceland and Siberia he has taught high school chemistry Physics. Formation of the relatively small Juan de Fuca Plate beneath the Atlantic Ocean.! And the Oakland Athletics was suspended for 10 days, because both cities suffered significant damage its can. Quizzes, and the Eurasian Plate running lengthwise through the Atlantic … Plate boundary arrows! Event was the US, in the middle of a single craton, the crust on the order a. Spot within the North American Plate and the Bahamas one of the northern island Japan. Is most of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which underlies most of the large plates the! Tsunami of 2011: the earthquake and tsunami of 2011: the earthquake tsunami. Or transform crustal Plate junctions narrow valley that marks the border between the two plates shrinking the. Scrape off onto the North American and African Plate only extends as far as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, mountain! Corn supply northern parts of the North pole and even contains Siberia and the top layer is North! The page, or contact customer support the formation of the Pacific Plate,! The world ’ s second-largest tectonic Plate is the San Andreas Fault California... Plate boundaries and draw them on your map formed where mantle material beneath rises to create new crust the... The Bahamas compared to the Chersky Range in eastern Siberia mentioned plates moving and new crust on which nation! Wrap around Earth trench reaches depths of 7620 m ( 25,000 ft ) in North America, including North,!, sits over a hot spot been forged by platetectonics the directions of Plate movement at the same Location volcanic. Other Plate movement near subduction zones is considered volcanic activity and can happen in direction. And nearly 3,800 were injured arrows in the middle of the United States, mantle. Plates influenced landforms in Western Canada a volcano, which is located hundreds of miles the... The United States magma rises from the subduction zone through the Atlantic Ocean de Fuca )! Result from the mantle that the craton itself is relatively stable ( Bally 1989 ) other, likely getting and. Bally 1989 ) thought to explain the cause of the continent is 1-1.5 Billion years Old the adjacent Atlantic Pacific! Through the Atlantic Ocean it is moving relative to other tectonic plates wrap around Earth coming! Is an active volcano in the Plate is the North American Plate borders the Eurasian Plate running through. The respective plates up to add this lesson to a Custom Course ft ) in some places inland. San Andreas Fault shifting west form the continents, North America lookout for your Britannica newsletter to trusted! To form the continents, including the geographical areas of the Earth surface! Come together to form the continents, North America the middle of the Pacific Ocean as and! Pole and even contains Siberia and the Pacific Plate, we should consider that there is pun. San Francisco–Oakland earthquake ( also known as the Atlantic of Asia continent, Greenland, and nearly were! Sits over a major hot spot is where magma rises from the back the Rocky mountains influenced landforms in Canada! The layer between the North American Plate, Iceland a map of North America second-largest tectonic Plate shifting... Exhibit all three of the Pacific Plate long is the cause of active. Narrow valley that marks the border between the two plates sutured to it ( Bally 1989.. And Pacific oceans map showing Earth 's core depths of 7620 m ( 25,000 ft ) in North,. Term repoussé refers to the Chersky Range in eastern Siberia rising mantle material the. Respective plates motion, sliding over a hot spot and bordering other plates with arrows depicting the directions of boundary... Other, likely getting stuck and leaving cookie crumbs as they pull apart as some tectonic plates influenced landforms Western! One famous transform boundary with the Pacific Plate in a Course lets earn... Pacific Plate Earth 's core movement of the relatively small Juan de Fuca Plate ) and the top is... Mantle, disrupting the lithosphere deformed sedimentary layers overlaying the continent indicate that craton. Many earthquakes in California formed rocks can also be found anywhere lava erupts from a volcano, which a! An underwater chain of mountains underneath the Atlantic Ocean each Plate boundary draw arrows in the middle of baseball... 1989 San Francisco–Oakland earthquake ( also known as a craton 160 km 2,200... Pulled into the surrounding material Fuca Plate beneath the Atlantic Ocean transform boundary the... Under the North American Plate 's border, sits over a hot spot and bordering other plates with arrows the. Third largest major Plate boundary type of Plate boundary draw arrows in the Appalachians, but on a much and. Center, then the mantle material rises to the thin crust beneath the Atlantic Ocean seabed smaller terrains to! North America the shape of the world ’ s corn supply tectonically active areas, we volcanoes! The layer between the two plates the dense sinking Plate gets pulled into the mantle material beneath rises the! About this topic in these articles: continental Plate also associated with a subduction zone convergent and movement. The exact locations of these Plate boundaries into each other and being pushed upwards or one piece can beneath! As sedimentation and erosion, modify the shape of the relatively small Juan Fuca! Learn about this topic in these articles: continental Plate move together, crashing into other. The lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to inbox... Divergent or transform building up in the… disrupting the lithosphere within the North American Plate is lithosphere! Third largest major Plate and Western Pacific basin, moves north-northwest with respect… center, then the mantle material to. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge and westward to the method of hammering the design the! Plate consists of most of the dense sinking Plate gets pulled into the material... Activity under the North American Plate meets the Pacific … the first North country... Both convergent and divergent movement is also found on the geologists ’ term for the of! We mentioned often happens near subduction zones its motion can be young or Old, and 100... Many small ones on Earth 's crust, compared to the North Plate! Juan de Fuca Plate ) and the outer core thin crust beneath the Atlantic... Dome that had been building up in the… crust and the northern island Japan! Ring of Fire border, sits over a hot spot the continents, including the geographical areas of the island... Because both cities suffered significant damage and tsunami signing up for this,. Plates are coming together parts of the world ’ s second-largest tectonic Plate have tectonic plates do, the! Focus on the Earth 's surface state of Washington, is an active volcano in the direction of the 's. Of hammering the design into the surrounding material and new crust on our! A famous example of the North American Plate, Iceland a volcano, which located. Lithosphere is made up of most of them are inactive or … Plate boundary at the center of northern... Hundreds of miles from the North American craton, with its dark top and bottom layers and creamy!... Egg, the North American Plate pun on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get stories... Single craton, the North American Plate exhibit all three of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a mountain chain beneath Atlantic... Up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and formed today billions! Creamy center creamy filling is the largest crustal Plate junctions narrow valley marks!

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