Most of the Earth is liquid rock, or "magma;" meanwhile, while only the surface, or "crust," is solid; likewise, the crust can be fairly thin in places-- typically at little as 20 miles thick on land, and as little as 3 miles undersea. This means that the entire Earth's solid surface is "floating" on the liquid magma underneath. Likewise, sometimes the magma can move unevenly due to changes in heat and pressure-- such as when a volcano erupts; this allows some parts of the surface-- or "plates--" to move at a different rate than others, in response to these sudden differences. Depending on the location, size and intensity of this difference, this can have various effects, such as the Tsunami in Thailand, or the recent Earthquake in Japan.
"Plate tectonics" refers to such uneven movement of these "plates," causing land and water to move rapidly, resulting in earthquakes and tidal waves.
Japan lies on the North American, Eurasian and Pacific plates, and is close to the Phillipine plate. Tokyo and Sendai, for example are on the North American plate.
Japan sits on or near the boundary of four tectonic plates: the Pacific, North American, Eurasian and Filipino plates.
The North American plate
It is situated near the edge of the Caribbean plate and the North American plate
Japan is under three tectonic plates
There were two tectonic plates involved: the Pacific plate and the plate under Northern Honshu (it is unknown which plate is under the island).
The Indian and burma plates hit Indonesia on October 25.
Japan lies over 4 tectonic plates. These are:The North American PlateThe Eurasian PlateThe Philippine Sea PlateThe Pacific Plate.
It is situated near the edge of the Caribbean plate and the North American plate
The Plates Are: Eurasian Plate and The African Plate!
Oklahoma is situated in the middle of the North American plate.
The Okhotsk Plate is the name of the tectonic plate near Hokkaido, Japan. Its borders are the Pacific Plate, the Philippine Sea Plate, the Eurasian Plate, and the Amurian Plate.
Japan is under three tectonic plates
Four Tectonic PlatesJapan lies over 4 tectonic plates. These are: The North American PlateThe Eurasian PlateThe Philippine Sea Plate, andThe Pacific Plate.
A Tsunami
Japan is under three tectonic plates
There were two tectonic plates involved: the Pacific plate and the plate under Northern Honshu (it is unknown which plate is under the island).
Mount Pelee is situated on the island of Martinique. Martinique is part of the Caribbean Plate which is a mostlyoceanic tectonic plate.
New Zealand is situated on the active boundary of the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates.
The Indian and burma plates hit Indonesia on October 25.