Subduction. A subduction trench.
On a passive continental margin, you can find thick sedimentary layers, wide continental shelves, and less seismic activity compared to an active continental margin.
On an active continental margin, you would be likely to find an active ocean trench. This structure would generally not occur at a passive continental margin.
No, the continental margin of Fort Myers is not considered an active continental margin. Active continental margins are typically associated with tectonic activity, such as subduction zones or plate boundaries, which are not present in the area surrounding Fort Myers.
Passive continental margin.
An active continental margin may have a trench.
Subduction. A subduction trench.
active continental margin
active continental margin
Subduction. A subduction trench.
A passive continental margin is not tectonically active, meaning it does not experience significant geological activity like earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. In contrast, an active continental margin is located near a tectonic plate boundary, leading to geological activity such as subduction zones, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.
The U.S. east coast is not considered an active continental margin because there are no plate boundaries near it. Off the coast there is merely a slope with a transition from continental to oceanic crust.
A subduction zone would be found at an active continental margin, where one tectonic plate is being forced beneath another. This process leads to features such as deep ocean trenches, volcanic arcs, and earthquakes. In contrast, passive continental margins lack these tectonic interactions and are characterized by a relatively smooth transition from continent to ocean basin.