Download Ring of Fire

Ring of Fire Activity
Background:
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An earthquake is the vibration of the earth’s crust. These vibrations are often the result of the energy released
when rocks along a tectonic plate boundary shift.
A volcano is the rock fragment and lava built up (mountain) on the earth’s surface around an opening or vent
through which magma flows. Volcanoes are usually located on or near tectonic plate boundaries.
Problem: Is there a pattern to the distribution of earthquakes and volcanic activity worldwide?
Materials:
Map of world with latitude and longitude shown;
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/atlas/world/world-dwl.gif
Map of world with plate boundaries shown;
http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Glossary/PlateTectonics/Maps/map_plate_tectonics_world.html
Colored pencils
Procedure:
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Using the data table below, locate the location of each earthquake on your world map with latitudes and
longitudes. Mark each location with an “E” using one of the colored pencils.
Again, using the data table below, locate the location of each volcano on your world map with latitudes and
longitudes. Mark each location with a “V” using a different colored pencil.
Data Table:
Earthquakes
Latitude
48oS
60oN
29oN
46oN
36oN
36oN
22oN
12oN
46oN
31oS
45oN
8oN
15oS
22oN
3oS
6oS
41oN
Volcanoes
Longitude
68oW
150oW
75oE
12oE
140oE
30oE
125oE
85oW
10oE
70oW
74oW
34oE
121oE
88oE
77oW
110oE
120oW
Latitude
60oN
35oS
45oN
15oN
20oN
0o
40oN
40oN
30oN
55oN
3oS
40oN
10oS
41oN
5oS
15oN
30oS
Longitude
151oW
72oW
122oW
60oW
107oW
76oW
124oW
32oE
61oE
163oE
36oE
146oE
121oE
15oE
104oE
34oE
71oW
Analysis and Conclusion Questions:
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Are earthquakes scattered all over the world or do they seem to occur near each other (in groups)?
Where are the areas with the greatest number of earthquakes?
Do the earthquakes occur in lines?
Are volcanoes scattered all over the world or do they seem to occur near each other (in groups)?
Where do volcanoes seem to occur most often?
Do volcanoes occur in lines?
Are most earthquakes and volcanoes located near the edges or the center of continents?
Compare your earthquake and volcano distribution map with the map of the world with plate boundaries.
How does the location of the earthquakes that you plotted compare with the plate boundaries?
9. How does the location of the volcanoes that you plotted compare with plate boundaries?
10. Why do you think that the area including the west coasts of North and South America, the east coast of Asia,
and the western Pacific islands of the Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea, and New Zealand that encircle
the Pacific Ocean is called “The Ring of Fire?”