Why are the East Pacific Rise, the Gorda and Juan de Fuca Ridges all the way at the eastern side of the Pacific Ocean?
A) The geophysicists and oceanographers haven't got a clue and mapped them in the wrong location.
B) They are a really young tectonic features and have just jumped to start rifting on this side of the Pacific Ocean, which used to rift down it's middle near Hawaii.
C) The spreading in the Pacific is asymmetric and new ocean crust is mainly made on the western side of the ridge system.
D) Half of the Pacific ocean basin has been overridden by or subducted beneath the plates of the Americas, and the Pacific plate is getting smaller.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The East Pacific Rise, the Gorda and Juan de Fuca Ridges are located at the eastern side of the Pacific Ocean because half of the Pacific ocean basin has been overridden by or subducted beneath the plates of the Americas, leading to the Pacific plate getting smaller.

Why Are the East Pacific Rise, the Gorda and Juan