Plate Boundaries and Tectonic Movements

Questions and Answers

How many different plates are clearly shown on the map?

How many of the plates on the map consist entirely of ocean floor (or ocean floor with islands)?

What type of plate boundary is indicated on the map as '#2'?

Divergent

What evidence indicates that a divergent boundary is present?

Age of ocean floor increases away from band of shallow earthquakes. Signup and view all the answers

What type of plate boundary is indicated on the map as '#3'?

Ocean-continent convergent Signup and view all the answers

What evidence indicates the presence of an ocean-continent convergent boundary?

Shallow to deep-focus earthquakes; volcanoes. Signup and view all the answers

What type of plate boundary is indicated on the map as '#4'?

Ocean-ocean convergent Signup and view all the answers

What evidence indicates the presence of an ocean-ocean convergent boundary?

Shallow to deep-focus earthquakes; volcanic islands. Signup and view all the answers

What has been the approximate rate of movement of the Pacific Plate in the area of the Hawaiian Islands over the last 5.1 million years?

110 mm per year Signup and view all the answers

Estimate the age of volcanic rocks you would expect to find on Midway Island using the average rate of plate movement?

22 million years Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Plate Boundaries and Types

A total of 4 distinct tectonic plates identified on the provided map.
2 of these plates consist entirely of ocean floor or include ocean floor with islands.
Mid-ocean ridge location indicates a divergent plate boundary with evidence showing that the age of the ocean floor increases away from a band of shallow earthquakes.

Convergent Plate Boundaries

The major volcanic mountain range (labeled as "#3") represents an ocean-continent convergent boundary, evidenced by shallow to deep-focus earthquakes and the presence of volcanoes.
The volcanic island arc (labeled as "#4") indicates an ocean-ocean convergent boundary, signified by shallow to deep-focus earthquakes and volcanic islands.

Pacific Plate Movement

The average movement rate of the Pacific Plate near the Hawaiian Islands has been calculated at approximately 110 millimeters per year over the last 5.1 million years.

Estimating Age of Volcanic Rocks

Midway Island, part of the Hawaiian chain and produced by the same hot spot as Kilauea, is 2430 kilometers (1510 miles) from the volcano.
Using the calculated plate movement rate, the estimated age of volcanic rocks on Midway Island is around 22 million years.

Description

Explore the different types of tectonic plate boundaries, including divergent and convergent, through detailed descriptions and mapping. Learn about the Pacific Plate's movement and how volcanic islands are formed as a result of these geological processes.