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Absolute motion of an individual plate estimated from its ridge and trench boundaries

Abstract

A method is presented for estimating the absolute motion of an individual plate using only the locations of trenches or ridges along the boundary of the plate. The change in trend of the Hawaiian–Emperor seamount chain is shown to be consistent with a chasuring the early Cainozoic in absolute plate motion produced by a change in the location of ridges and trenches along the boundary of the Pacific plate.

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Gordon, R., Cox, A. & Harter, C. Absolute motion of an individual plate estimated from its ridge and trench boundaries. Nature 274, 752–755 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/274752a0

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