Editing Explorer plate (section)

== Current state of subduction ==
The subducted portion of the plate extends downward to more than 300&nbsp;km (186&nbsp;mi) depth, and laterally as far as mainland Canada.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Audet|first1=P.|last2=Bostock|first2=M. G.|last3=Mercier|first3=J.-P.|last4=Cassidy|first4=J. F.|title=Morphology of the Explorer–Juan de Fuca slab edge in northern Cascadia: Imaging plate capture at a ridge-trench-transform triple junction|journal=Geology|volume=36|issue=11|doi=10.1130/g25356a.1|year=2008|page=895|bibcode=2008Geo....36..895A}}</ref> The relative [[buoyancy]] of the subducting plate and the underlying mantle may be inhibiting the Explorer plate's ability to descend further into the mantle.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Govers|first1=Rob|last2=Meijer|first2=Paul Th|date=2001-07-15|title=On the dynamics of the Juan de Fuca plate|journal=Earth and Planetary Science Letters|volume=189|issue=3–4|pages=115–131|doi=10.1016/S0012-821X(01)00360-0|bibcode=2001E&PSL.189..115G}}</ref>

There is an ongoing debate regarding the process of subduction of the Explorer plate and how the boundary between the Explorer plate and the North American plate are defined:
# The Explorer plate has stopped and may eventually [[Accretion (geology)|accrete]], fusing with the North American plate as the subduction has fully stopped and will eventually become a [[plate boundary]] between the North American plate and Pacific plate rather than continuing its subduction.<ref name=":22">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg15320672-600-science-canadas-cracking-plate-feels-the-earth-move/|title=Science : Canada's cracking plate feels the Earth move|work=New Scientist|access-date=2017-05-08}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
# The Explorer plate consists of two parts with half being fused to the North American plate and the other half remaining a microplate system.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Rohr|first1=Kristin M. M.|last2=Furlong|first2=Kevin P.|date=1995-11-01|title=Ephemeral plate tectonics at the Queen Charlotte triple junction|journal=Geology|volume=23|issue=11|pages=1035–1038|doi=10.1130/0091-7613(1995)023<1035:EPTATQ>2.3.CO;2|bibcode=1995Geo....23.1035R|issn=0091-7613}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Kreemer|first1=Corné|last2=Govers|first2=Rob|last3=Furlong|first3=Kevin P.|last4=Holt|first4=William E.|date=1998-08-15|title=Plate boundary deformation between the Pacific and North America in the Explorer region|journal=Tectonophysics|volume=293|issue=3–4|pages=225–238|doi=10.1016/S0040-1951(98)00089-4|bibcode=1998Tectp.293..225K|citeseerx=10.1.1.180.2770}}</ref>
# The Explorer plate has slowed to a terminal speed of 20&nbsp;mm/year, and will continue until the entire plate is subducted.<ref name=":1" />