58.6k views
24 votes
Is it possible for the Eurasian, North American, and South American plates to create a deep sea trench? Why or why not?

2 Answers

4 votes

Final answer:

Yes, it is possible for the Eurasian, North American, and South American plates to contribute to the formation of a deep sea trench if the right conditions for subduction are met, leading to volcanic activity near coastlines where this subduction occurs. Deep sea trenches are usually associated with oceanic plate convergence.

Step-by-step explanation:

It is theoretically possible for the Eurasian, North American, and South American plates to create a deep sea trench if they converge in a way where one plate is subducted beneath another. However, the creation of a deep sea trench is more commonly associated with the convergence of oceanic plates, rather than the interactions between continental plates like those of Eurasia and North America. The subduction of oceanic plates beneath continental plates, like the Nazca Plate beneath the South American Plate, leads to the partial melting of the asthenosphere, causing volcanism. This process can result in the formation of a deep sea trench along the subduction zone, as well as an accompanying volcanic arc. Given this, volcanoes would be closer to the coastline near subduction zones because the melting and uprising magmas create volcanic features near these zones. Conversely, places far away from plate boundaries typically exhibit less or no volcano formation.

As an example, the Andes Mountains formed where the Nazca Plate is subducted under the South American Plate. Seafloor spreading rates can also play a role in tectonic features. The mid-Atlantic Ridge spreads slower than the East Pacific Rise off the coast of South America, which can be deduced from comparing the ages of the seafloor, as younger seafloor is indicative of faster spreading rates.

User Catlard
by
5.7k points
3 votes
Yes,because the tectonic plates are way more deep so if they would rub the wrong way the countries could have a mass earthquake creating a deep sea trench
User Andy Hoyle
by
5.4k points