Plate Tectonics: Investigation of plate boundaries, plate movement and tectonic
ID: 1159 • Letter: P
Question
Plate Tectonics: Investigation of plate boundaries, plate movement and tectonic environments I. Refer to Fig. 2. Describe two specific places or regions on earth that arc tectonically active as evidenced by volcanic and earthquake activity. (They can be large regions) Include the names of the continents or occeans involved where the tectonic activity is occurring. Name two places or regions on earth that do not have significant tectonic activity. compare the data on the volcanoes and earthquakes map Fig. 2 with the plate boundaries map Fig. I. How does the map of volcanoes and earthquakes correspond with the plate boundaries map? List three types of boundaries shown on the map. Draw the symbol for each here. What type of boundary exists along the San Andreas fault in southern California?. The numbers represent relative rate of motion of the plates in mm/year. Find a place where the relative rate of plate motion is greater than 100 mm/year less than 30 mm year. What is the name of the feature in the center of the Atlantic Ocean? Refer to Fig. 3: write your answers on the blank page. On a separate page, sketch three types of convergent plate boundaries as illustrated Label mountain ranges, volcanoes, trenches, ocean plates, continental plates, area of melting (magma), suture zoneExplanation / Answer
1. No figure included in question. Describe two specific places/regions on Earth that are tectonically active as evidenced by volcanic and earthquake activity (they can be large regions.) Include the names of continents or oceans involved where the tectonic activity is occurring:
The Ring of Fire surrounds a large volcanic and tectonic border around the Pacific Ocean. The horseshoe shaped region stretches about 25,000 miles in a series of ocean trenches, volcanic arcs and belts, and plate movement (divergent, subduction, and transform boundaries.) Many countries are effected by the tectonic and volcanic activity along the Ring of Fire, including the western edges of the South, Central, and North American continents, and the eastern borders of Japan, Marianas, Philippines, and other South Pacific islands.
2. Name two places/regions on Earth without significant tectonic activity.
The eastern coast of the United States has relatively few earthquakes (100 times fewer than in California.) Florida and North Dakota have the fewest number of quakes compared to all the U.S. states. This can be due to the very large place that stretches east from California all the way to the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
Antarctica has quakes, but they are due to the movement of ice, not tectonic plates. Regions of Canada are very similar, but movement is due to loss of ice and relieving pressure on the surface of the continental plate.
Other places on Earth that are in the middle of tectonic plates and do not experience earthquakes or volcanic activity include the eastern coast of South America, Australia, and countries in the center of the Eurasian plate.
3. Compare the data on the volcanoes and earthquakes map in Figure 2 with plate boundaries on Figure 1. How does the map of volcanoes and earthquakes correspond with plate boundaries?
Figures not given with the question.
Just inside subduction zones one will find volcanoes. Earthquakes are found where ever plate boundaries collide or subduct. Where plates diverge there is also volcanic activity, most of which occurs deep within the ocean and under plates, with a notable exception of Iceland.
4. List three types of boundaries shown on the map. Draw the symbol for each here.
Map not given with question.
Convergent
Divergent
Transform
a) What type of boundary along San Andreas Fault? Transform aka strike slip
b) The numbers represent relative rate of motion of the plates in mm/year (figure not given) where relative rate of plate motion is more than 100mm/yr (Nazca Plate) and less than 30 mm/yr (Mid Atlantic Ridge)
5. Name the feature in the center of the Atlantic Ocean (Map not given to answer question)