The Pacific Plate is the single tectonic plate of the Pacific Ocean's floor, and it moves across the layer of Earth called the a
sthenosphere. Each of the Hawaiian Islands are made up of at least one primary volcano. Hawaii, the largest of the Hawaiian islands, is made of five volcanoes, including Kilauea, shown on this map. Based on how much lava it erupts annually, Kilauea is currently one of Earth's most productive volcanoes. The island of Hawaii, along with seven other islands, form an island chain attached to the North Pacific Ocean's moving floor, known as the Pacific Plate. Compared to the layers below it, the Pacific Plate moves northwest about 5 to 10 centimeters every year. Based on this information and the table shown, which statement best elaborates on the effects of the Pacific Plate on the Hawaiian islands? A) Due to the increasing number of volcanoes on the islands, movement of the Pacific Plate is slowing over time. B) Because the islands move along with the movement of the Pacific Plate, the oldest islands are farthest northwest. C) The islands are moving closer together as the Pacific Plate moves, causing some volcanoes to form single islands. D) Movement of the Pacific Plate across the asthenosphere causes excessive friction, pushing heat up in the form of eruptions.
The statement that best elaborates the information given is: because the islands move along with the movement of the Pacific Plate, the oldest islands are farthest northwest. The map shows the locations of the islands listed, and the chart explains the distances. The ages of the islands increase as distance from Kilauea increases.
