Why is the cotinental shelf narrower at the west coast than the US?

The continental shelf is narrower on the west coast of the U.S. primarily due to tectonic plate interactions. The Pacific Plate is subducting beneath the North American Plate along the Cascadia Subduction Zone, leading to steeper continental slopes and a more abrupt transition to the deep ocean. In contrast, the east coast has a more gradual slope and a wider continental shelf, influenced by different geological processes and the passive margin configuration.