The Pacific Plate is the primary tectonic plate that is covered almost entirely by ocean.
While some tectonic plates, like the African and South American plates, consist of both continental and oceanic crust, the Pacific Plate is a significant example of a plate primarily composed of oceanic crust. This means that most of its surface lies beneath the Pacific Ocean.
Here's a breakdown:
- Oceanic vs. Continental Plates: Tectonic plates can be made of either oceanic crust (thinner and denser) or continental crust (thicker and less dense), or a combination of both.
- Pacific Plate Composition: The Pacific Plate is predominantly made up of oceanic crust. This is why the Pacific Ocean basin is so extensive.
- Other Oceanic Plates: While the Pacific Plate is the largest and most well-known, other smaller plates are also predominantly oceanic, such as the Nazca Plate and the Cocos Plate.
Therefore, to reiterate, the answer to your question is the Pacific Plate.
