Plate Motion
For the most part, the North American Plate moves in roughly a southwest direction away from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
The motion of the plate cannot be driven by subduction as no part of the North American Plate is being subducted, except for a small section comprising part of the Puerto Rico Trench; thus other mechanisms continue to be investigated.
One recent study suggests that a mantle convective current is propelling the plate.
Read more about this topic: North American Plate
Famous quotes containing the words plate and/or motion:
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—Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977)
“There’s not the smallest orb which thou behold’st
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—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)