Final answer:
The range in elevation from the deepest seafloor to the highest mountains is about 48,459 feet near Japan, considering the Mariana Trench and Mount Fuji, and about 50,481 feet near the northwest United States, taking into account the Mariana Trench and Mount Rainier. Tectonic plate activity is responsible for these geological features.
Step-by-step explanation:
The range in elevation from the deepest seafloor to the highest mountains near Japan involves the Mariana Trench and Mount Fuji. The Mariana Trench is regarded as the deepest part of the world's oceans, reaching depths of approximately 36,070 feet (10,994 meters). In contrast, Mount Fuji, one of Japan's most famous mountains, reaches a height of approximately 12,389 feet (3,776 meters). Therefore, the total elevation range is the sum of these two values, resulting in a range of about 48,459 feet (14,770 meters).
The situation is similar near the northwest United States. Here, the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench would again be considered the deepest seafloor reference point, while Mount Rainier, reaching an elevation of 14,411 feet (4,392 meters), would be the highest mountain in the vicinity. The total elevation range in this area would be approximately 50,481 feet (15,386 meters).
Tectonic plate activity plays a crucial role in the formation of these geological features. The Pacific Northwest is shaped by the Juan de Fuca plate and North American plate boundary, leading to the formation of mountain ranges like the Cascade Range, which includes Mount St. Helens. The tectonic processes such as subduction and volcanic activity have created these high elevation landscapes. Similarly, the deep ocean trenches are a result of tectonic plates converging and one plate being forced below the other, creating deep depressions in the ocean floor.