Gorda Ridge
Subduction
Topographic Map
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The Juan de Fuca Plate lies below a subduction complex and has a northeasterly
dip increasing from about 3 degrees under the off-shore accretionary wedge to
10-15 degrees under the northern part of Vancouver Island. The Juan de Fuca Plate
is formed by a spreading zone off-shore that's moving the plate to the North
American Plate. It moves to the North American Plate at about 2-5 cm/year. The
subduction of the small plate below the North American Plate has produced
a volcanic arc on the continent.
At 80,000 square miles, the Juan de Fuca Plate is much bigger than Washington State. This plate is one of a dozen or so, that make up the surface of the Earth. There is good evidence that the Juan de Fuca Plate and North American plates are currently locked together causing strain to build up in the earth's crust. The Juan de Fuca Plate goes under the aspect of earthquakes and volcanoes. Canada's largest historical earthquake that had a magnitude of 8.1, occured along the Juan de Fuca Plate on August 22,1949. Other studies that are related to the Juan de Fuca Plate are plate tectonics and ocean floor spreading. |
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Gorda Ridge |
Subduction |
Topographic Map |
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