Is the East Pacific Rise active?

Is the East Pacific Rise active?

Active spreading centers are hotbeds of volcanic activity. The resulting underwater volcanoes spread lava across large areas of seafloor and form the core of the East Pacific Rise. Over millions of years, as volcanic crust spreads outward on either side of an active spreading center, the crust begins to cool and sink.

Why is the East Pacific Rise Faster?

The magma cools and forms a dense rock called a diabase. This type of rock is found in the lower part of the ocean crust. Faster spreading ridges like the northern and southern East Pacific Rise are “hotter,” meaning more magma is present beneath the ridge axis and more volcanic eruptions occur.

How old are the rocks along the East Pacific Rise?

In the eastern Pacific, why are oceanic rocks no older than 120 million years? The eastern Pacific Mid-Oceanic Ridge is not far from the subduction zone that runs along the west coast of South America. The ocean floor spreading eastward is subducted and destroyed relatively soon after formation.

What is the motion rate of the East Pacific Rise near Easter Island?

per year
The oceanic crust is moving away from the East Pacific Rise to either side. Near Easter Island the rate is over 150 mm (6 in) per year which is the fastest in the world.

Which ocean is growing the fastest?

The fastest present-day seafloor spreading, ~150 km/Myr, occurs along the Pacific-Nazca boundary between the Easter and Juan Fernandez microplates.

How fast is the East Pacific Rise spreading?

about 6-16 centimeters
The East Pacific Rise, on the other hand, is a fast spreading center. It spreads about 6-16 centimeters (3-6 inches) every year.

How Deep Is East Pacific Rise?

approximately 6,000 to 9,000 feet
Its structure is largely of igneous crust, overlain or abutted by generally flat-lying sediments. It rises from approximately 6,000 to 9,000 feet (1,800 to 2,700 metres) above the surrounding seafloor and is extensively fractured by faults mostly occurring at intervals of roughly 200 miles (320 km).

How big is the East Pacific Rise?

It is typically 1.4 km (0.9 mile) deep and 20–40 km (about 12–25 miles) wide.

Is the Pacific getting smaller?

Though huge, the Pacific is getting smaller. It was once much wider when all the continents were joined together in the supercontinent, Pangea. The Pacific ocean basin is getting smaller because the Atlantic Ocean is opening and North America and South America are moving westward.

Will the Pacific plate disappear?

Seafloor spreading is when tectonic plates split from each other, creating a new oceanic crust. While the Pacific Ocean is slowly shrinking, the Atlantic Ocean is expanding. Some scientists believe that eventually the Pacific Ocean could close completely.

How big is the East Pacific Rise compared to the Rift Valley?

In contrast, the East Pacific Rise spreads fast at rates of 6 to 16 cm per year (more than 20 cm per year in the past). Due to the fast spreading rates, there is no rift valley, just a smooth volcanic summit with a crack along the crest that is much smaller than the Atlantic rift valley.

Where does the East Pacific Rise come from?

The East Pacific Rise is representative of a divergent boundary where the Pacific Plate and the Nazca Plate (west of South America) are moving apart—a process known as rifting.…. oceanic ridge: Pacific Ocean. …to where it joins the East Pacific Rise off the margin of South America.

Which is faster Easter Island Rise or East Pacific Rise?

East Pacific Rise, 21 degrees north. The oceanic crust is moving away from the East Pacific Rise to either side. Near Easter Island the rate is over 15 cm (6 in) per year which is the fastest in the world but it is lower at about 6 cm (21⁄2 in) at the north end.

Is the East Pacific Rise a divergent boundary?

The East Pacific Rise is representative of a divergent boundary where the Pacific Plate and the Nazca Plate (west of South America) are moving apart—a process known as rifting.….