In another role, transform faults provide the means by which the oceanic crust created at ridge crests can be trans- ported to a site of destruction—the deep-ocean trenches. Figure 2.21 illustrates this situation. Notice that the Juan de Fuca plate moves in a southeasterly direction, eventu- ally being subducted under the west coast of the United States. The southern end of this plate is bounded by a transform fault called the Mendocino Fault. This transform boundary connects the Juan de Fuca Ridge to the Cascadia subduction zone. Therefore, it facilitates the movement of the crustal material created at the Juan de Fuca Ridge to its destina- tion beneath the North American continent.
Like the Mendocino Fault, most other trans- form fault boundaries are located within ocean basins; however, a few cut through continental crust. Two examples are the earthquake-prone San Andreas Fault of California and New Zea- land’s Alpine Fault. Notice in Figure 2.21 that the San Andreas Fault connects a spreading cen- ter located in the Gulf of California to the Cas- cadia subduction zone and the Mendocino Fault located along the northwest coast of the United States. Along the San Andreas Fault, the Pacific plate is moving toward the northwest, past the North American plate (Figure 2.22). If this movement continues,
In another role, transform faults provide the means by which the oceanic crust created at ridge crests can be trans- ported to a site of destruction—the deep-ocean trenches. Figure 2.21 illustrates this situation. Notice that the Juan de Fuca plate moves in a southeasterly direction, eventu- ally being subducted under the west coast of the United States. The southern end of this plate is bounded by a transform fault called the Mendocino Fault. This transform boundary connects the Juan de Fuca Ridge to the Cascadia subduction zone. Therefore, it facilitates the movement of the crustal material created at the Juan de Fuca Ridge to its destina- tion beneath the North American continent. Like the Mendocino Fault, most other trans- form fault boundaries are located within ocean basins; however, a few cut through continental crust. Two examples are the earthquake-prone San Andreas Fault of California and New Zea- land’s Alpine Fault. Notice in Figure 2.21 that the San Andreas Fault connects a spreading cen- ter located in the Gulf of California to the Cas- cadia subduction zone and the Mendocino Fault located along the northwest coast of the United States. Along the San Andreas Fault, the Pacific plate is moving toward the northwest, past the North American plate (Figure 2.22). If this movement continues,
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