Earth Science A

Plate Movement Lab

Directions: We are truly in motion no matter where we stand on the planet. The
tectonic plates that compose the crust of the Earth are in motion at a measurable
rate. Everything on the crust of the Earth changes its location in relation to the
planet. Yes, the plates are moving over the mantle, and we can measure this
motion to determine the rate of plate movement by figuring the distances and
times involved.

Question?
1. How fast do tectonic plates move?
About 2 inches per year
2. Are they all moving at the same rate?
No

Hypothesis: Please type in your answers to the questions above based on your best guess.

1. If tectonic plates moved faster, then the Americas would be closer to Asia
2. If tectonic plates were moving at the same rate, then they would all be identical.

Procedure:
For example, if we know the past location of a certain island, then we can measure the distance
between the present location of the island and its location millions of years ago to determine the
speed of the plate on which the island is located.
The example island in Figure 1 shows how this is done. If the island has moved 1,200
kilometers toward the northwest in 40 million years, then we can measure its average speed by
dividing the distance moved by the number of years.

Thus, the rate of movement (speed) is 3 centimeters (cm) per year.

Hotspots
A convenient way to measure the distance moved by a land mass such as an island is by
understanding hotspots. Hotspots are magma-rich locations within the upper mantle that cause
volcanic activity in the crust of the earth directly above the hotspots. Hawaii and the Galapagos
Islands are prominent examples of hotspot-related land masses.

It is assumed by geologists that hotspots generally stay in the same location within the mantle,
and, as the crust of the earth passes over the mantle, new islands, for example, are produced
as the older islands move away from the hotspot. Because the location of a hotspot is known,
we know at what rate the island is moving away from the hotspot by learning the age of the
rocks composing the island along with measuring the distance of the island from the hotspot.

Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands are a classic example of land created by a hotspot. The islands are
quite curious scientifically with their relatively recent arrival in terms of geologic time and the
unique characteristics of their flora and fauna. Charles Darwin was inspired by his visit there in
1834.

Learn more about the Galapagos Islands by reading the transcript found at the following link:
http://www.pbs.org/odyssey/voice/20000503_vos_transcript.html

Hawaiian Islands
Rarely does something present itself as clearly as it does with the Hawaiian Island chain and
plate tectonic theory. The chain of islands was formed by the Pacific Plate moving over a
stationary hotspot within the mantle. As the plate moved over the hotspot, volcanic activity
formed new islands. As a matter of fact, a future island named Loihi Seamount is forming to the
southeast of the big island of Hawaii. It only lacks 1 kilometer before breaking the sea surface. If
one travels to the northwest of the Hawaiian Islands, a chain of smaller islands that includes
Midway Island can be found in line with the Hawaiian Islands. Further to the northwest,
underwater mapping reveals seamounts also in a linear pattern with the islands. Curiously,
there is a bend in the direction of the line of seamounts as one proceeds to the northwest of the
Pacific Ocean. The Pacific Plate apparently changed its direction of movement within an instant
of geologic time. To see a map of the Pacific Ocean floor showing the pattern of islands and
seamounts, go to the following web address: http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/Hawaiian.html.
Continental Hotspots

Clearly, as one can see in the figure above, most of the world’s hotspots occur beneath oceanic
crust; however, they also are found below continental crust. The Yellowstone hotspot is a
classic example. Yellowstone National Park would not exist if it were not for the hotspot
underneath it. The past violent volcanic activity and the current milder volcanic activity in the
region provided by the hotspot have produced a gloriously beautiful and interesting landscape.
The geysers logically derive their heat from the magma chamber that lies shallowly (<1 km)
beneath the park. It is certain that violent volcanic activity will occur again at Yellowstone. We
don’t know when that will occur, but we know it will. With time, the land composing Yellowstone
National Park will move away from the hotspot, so the park region will eventually cease to
display volcanic activity, and new areas will show the effects of the hotspot. Perhaps the park
will need to move to stay over the hotspot.
Figure 4. Map showing past and present locations of Yellowstone Hotspot as North American
Plate traveled over hotspot. The orange circles represent calderas associated with volcanic
activity resulting from the hotspot. (Source: National Park Service-NPS: The source of this map
regarding the Yellowstone Hotspot is found at
http://www.nps.gov/features/yell/slidefile/graphics/diagrams/Images/15899.jpg

Lab Activities
1. Read the transcript or listen to the audio at the PBS web site that is titled The Geology of
the Galapagos Islands http://www.pbs.org/odyssey/voice/20000503_vos_transcript.html.
You’ll also need a resource that shows a map and distances of the Galapagos Islands.
One source is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gal%C3%A1pagos_Islands.

Gather the following information from the site:

a. What is the name of the tectonic plate on which the Galapagos Islands are located?

Tha Nazca tectonic Plate

b. In what general direction is the plate moving: north, south, east, or west?

East

c. How fast is the plate moving in centimeters per year (cm/yr)?

7 cm/yr

d. How far are the Galapagos Islands from the nearest continent in kilometers?

960 km

e. Based on the speed of the tectonic plate, how many years will it take for the Galapagos
Islands to reach the edge of the nearest mainland (i.e. continent)?

About 137 years

2. The following questions show how the ages and distances between the Hawaiian
Islands reveal the speed of the Pacific Plate. The ages of the islands were acquired from
a web site produced by the University of Hawaii:
http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/GG/HCV/haw_formation.html

a. Using the scale in the Hawaiian Archipelago figure, measure the distance in kilometers
from the center of the big island of Hawaii to the center of the island of Kauai to the
northwest. The age of the island of Kauai is 5.1 million years (5,100,000 years). The
hotspot is underneath the big island of Hawaii; therefore, use the distance you measured
and the age of the island of Kauai to determine the rate of movement of the Pacific Plate
over the Hawaiian hotspot. Remember this? This first problem is set up for you, but you
must complete the calculation. Rate of movement of Pacific Plate in cm per year (i.e.
speed) =
500 km 100,000 cm
× =0.98 cm/ year
5,100,000 years 1 km

b. The island of Maui in the Hawaiian Island chain is 1.32 million years (1,320,000).
Measure the distance from the center of the big island of Hawaii to Maui to determine
the rate of movement of the Pacific Plate between the Hawaiian hotspot and Maui.
Follow the same format for 2a, inserting the years in the correct spot. You need to
measure the distance:

Rate of movement of Pacific Plate (i.e. speed) =

Approx 12 cm/year

c. Based on the rates of movement that you calculated above, has the Pacific Plate rate of
movement (i.e. speed) increased, decreased, or stayed the same from the past to the
more recent? Explain how you determined your answer.

It has increased

d. You are in charge of locating a geothermal plant on one of the Hawaiian Islands. On
which island is it logical to find an excellent source of geothermal energy?

Hawaii

3. Look at Figure 4 in the material above and study the movement of the Yellowstone
Hotspot. The orange circles on the map represent calderas, which are evidence of past
volcanic activity associated with the hotspot that is now located underneath Yellowstone
National Park. In the past, the hotspot was underneath what is now Oregon as indicated
by the 16.1 million-year old McDermitt Volcanic Field.
 a. Look at the trend of the ages of the calderas and notice how the calderas proceed from
youngest to oldest in proportion to distance from the hotspot. The Yellowstone Hotspot is
located beneath the North American Plate. Based on the directional trend of the
calderas, in what direction is the North American Plate moving from the hotspot?

Southwest

b. The Yellowstone Hotspot is underneath northwestern Wyoming at this time. In a few

million years, under what state do you predict the hotspot will be underneath?

Southern Montana

c. The distance between the Yellowstone and McDermitt Volcanic Field is approximately
725 kilometers (450 miles). Look at the Figure 4 map and notice the age of the caldera
associated with McDermitt Volcanic Field. Based on that age and the distance from the
hotspot, what has been the rate of movement (i.e. speed) of the North American Plate?
Follow the same format for 2a, inserting the years in the correct spot. You need to
measure the distance:
4.5 cm/year

d. On the map, there is a caldera that is labeled as 11.8 mya (million years ago). The
distance between this caldera and the hotspot underneath Yellowstone National Park is
approximately 475 kilometers (295 miles). Based on the age and distance information,
how fast has the North American Plate moved from the hotspot? Follow the same
format 2a, inserting the years in the correct spot. You have been given the distance:

4.025 cm/year

e. Compare the speed of the plate you calculated for Question 3.d. with the calculation you
did in Question 3.c.. After comparing the two rates, has the speed of the North American
Plate increased, decreased, or stayed the same over geologic time? Explain the reason
behind your conclusion.

It has decreased

f. Regarding the speeds of the three tectonic plates studied in this lesson, put the names
of the three tectonic plates in order from slowest to fastest:
The slowest moving plate is North American plate and it is moving at 4.025 cm/yr,
The second slowest is The Nazca plate and it is moving at 7 cm/yr
The fastest is The Pacific Plate and it is moving at 7 cm/yr.

Conclusion
Was your hypothesis correct?

Yes

Was your speed estimate accurate? How about their comparative speeds?

Yes, but the speed was slightly different.