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2.5 to 5cm per year

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Q: How far does the North American plate move each year?
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How fast does the North American Plate move?

3 inches a year


Can a transform plate boundary slide along each other in two different directions?

In Earth Science today, we learned that a transform curstal plate margin are created when ttwo crustal plates move along each other. Our teacher told us that it seems they move in two different directions (the San Andreas Fault) because the Pacific Plate moves faster than the North American Plate. It is observed by the displacement of the rocks, the oceanic rocks (Pacific Plate) move in a N-NW direction, and the crustal rocks (North American Plates) also did move in a N-NW direction, but at a slower rate, making it look like they moved in a S-SE direction. Now my question is, can two plate move along each other in two different ways, i.e.: North and South, and if so, what is an example (where is it and what is the name)?


What direction do the convergent plate move?

It depends on which plate tectonics you are talking about. Each plate has its specific direction of movement. All plate tectonics move in different directions.


How fast do plates move relative to each other?

The plates move relative to each other in varying speeds. The Pacific plate moves against the North American plate at 5 cm/yr. The Arctic Ridge has the slowest rate at less than 2.5 cm/yr., while the East Pacific Rise has the fastest rate at more than 15 cm/yr.


Why did the San Andreas Fault happen?

Actually the San Andreas fault and its right lateral strike slip fault characteristics were preceded by a subduction of the Farallon tectonic plate under the North american plate. Farallon plate not being orthogonal (perpendicular) to the North American plate graduated to the shutdown of the subduction and developing more of a strike slip motion. Nowadays the Farallon plate has been completely subducted and in its place is now the Pacific plate that slips past the North American plate in a right lateral fashion. There are two remnants of the Farallon plate, the Cocos plate subducting underneath Central America and the Gorda plate subducting underneath Oregon and Washington state.

Related questions

How did the earthquake in Haiti move?

I think the Caribbean plate and north American plate slid past each other, a transformation boundary.


How fast does the North American Plate move?

3 inches a year


Which way does the tectonic Caribbean plate move?

the plate is moving north west toward the north american plate


Can a transform plate boundary slide along each other in two different directions?

In Earth Science today, we learned that a transform curstal plate margin are created when ttwo crustal plates move along each other. Our teacher told us that it seems they move in two different directions (the San Andreas Fault) because the Pacific Plate moves faster than the North American Plate. It is observed by the displacement of the rocks, the oceanic rocks (Pacific Plate) move in a N-NW direction, and the crustal rocks (North American Plates) also did move in a N-NW direction, but at a slower rate, making it look like they moved in a S-SE direction. Now my question is, can two plate move along each other in two different ways, i.e.: North and South, and if so, what is an example (where is it and what is the name)?


What is the sections of the earth that move about and cause earthquakes and volcanoes?

They are called tectonic plates. There are : Eurasian Plate, Arabian Plate, African Plate, South American Plate, Caribbean Plate, North American Plate, Pacific Plate, Philippine Plate, Indo-Australian Plate and the Antarctic Plate.


Why is part of California separating from the rest of North America?

California is not separating from North America so much as rubbing up against it. The state of California straddles two tectonic plates: the North American Plate and the Pacific Plate. The place where these two plates come into contact, the San Andreas Fault, is called a transform fault: the North American Plate and the Pacific plate grind back and forth against each other, sometimes creating earthquakes. Since part of California, including San Francisco and Los Angeles, are actually located on the Pacific Plate side, this part of the state is technically separate from the rest of North America already. It doesn't appear that way, since the two plates are pressed against each other, but the North American Plate and the Pacific Plate do move independently of each other, so that section of California is slowly changing its alignment relative to the rest of North America.


What move through the earth's crust and mantle in a snakelike fashion?

- The Plates of the Earth (Answer)Example:Take the Pacific Plate and the North American plate. Grab them and collide themtogether, which causes earthquakes, tsunamis and other types of natural disasters. The North American Plate comes under the Pacific Plate into the deeper mantle.


What direction do the convergent plate move?

It depends on which plate tectonics you are talking about. Each plate has its specific direction of movement. All plate tectonics move in different directions.


Why are there earthquakes in the region of pacific plate and north America plan despite the absence of volcanoes?

The Pacific plate is sliding past the North American plate.Both move in same direction, but the Pacific plate is moving faster.The result is earthquakes now and then-but no volcanoes.


What happens when the nazca seafloor plate pushes into the so American continental plate?

the nazca plate will move under the south american plate.


How fast do plates move relative to each other?

The plates move relative to each other in varying speeds. The Pacific plate moves against the North American plate at 5 cm/yr. The Arctic Ridge has the slowest rate at less than 2.5 cm/yr., while the East Pacific Rise has the fastest rate at more than 15 cm/yr.


What are plate tectonics and what does it have to do with the earths shape?

Plate tectonics are what each continent is on. They move and are continuing to move today. It has to do with the earth's shape because the plate tectonics move the continents around.