Question

Are the continental margins surrounding the atlantic ocean primarily active or passive? how about the margins surrounding the pacific ocean? based on your response to the previous questions, is the atlantic ocean getting larger, shrinking or staying the same. what about the pacific?

Answer 1

The margins surrounding the Atlantic ocean are passive, meaning they are not actively taking part in a continental rift or collision. Contrarily, the Pacific margin is active, as it occurs at a plate boundary. The Pacific Ocean is shrinking, while rifting in the middle of the Atlantic is causing it to grow.