why are volcanoes present on the west coast of the US but not the east coast?

Answer 1

It's becaue of the active margin on the west coast and the passive margin on the east coast.

The west coast is tectonically active with transform faults and subduction.

The east coast is a passive margin with just slow subsidence and no tectonics.

The reason for this is the age of the margin between continent and ocean. The older it is, the more likely that subduction occurs because ocean crust is heavy and out of equilibrium and wants to subduct (thus causing volcanism). The Pacific coast is over 500 million years old, the Atlantic coast is under 200 million.

Answer 2

The west coast is an active plate margin while the east coast is not. The continental plates are colliding on the west coast and subducting causing lava plumes to come to the surface.

Answer 3

The west coast is an active fault line where the north american plate meets the pacific plate. The east coast is not an active fault - the nearest fault is the mid-atlantic ridge, and that is a spreading zone rather than a colliding fault.

Answer 4

The west coast is located along what is known as the ring of fire. There are volcano's off the coast of US, most notably, Bermuda, is located on top of a big volcano...Have a great day...

Answer 5

Plate tectonics,

the west coast is moving over the Oceanic crust and forcing it down into the mantle where it melts and become magma. This magma moves upward like blowing water and cases mountains and volcano's.

There is more to it but I am trying to keep things scaled down.

Answer 6

It is the most active plate area. If I remember right.