Question

The chain of Hawaiian islands can be used to calculate the rate of movement of the Pacific Plate over the last few million years. The island of Hawaii currently sits on the hot spot and is therefore 0 million years old. The island of Kauai used to sit on the hot spot; it is approximately 5.1 million years old and is now approximately 473 km away from the hot spot, to the northwest. Given these parameters, what is the average rate of motion of the Pacific Plate in cm per year?

Answer 1

The average rate of motion of the Pacific Plate will be 9.27 cm per year.

From the information given, the following can be deduced:

• Distance = 473 km = 47300000cm
• Time = 5.1 million years = 5100000 years.

Therefore, the rate of plate movement will be:

= Distance / Time

= 47300000 / 5100000.

= 9.27cm/yr

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