Download Plate and Volcano Information

Science 8
Mapping Activity
Enduring Understandings
Earth is a dynamic system.
All Shook Up!
EQ: How do we use models to study the
earth?
Targeted Skills
Information Literacy
 Evaluate information
 draw conclusions, make inferences
Technology Skills
 Select and effectively manipulate technology tools
 software applications
Communication
 Reading/Viewing/Listening
 interpret charts, tables, maps
Concepts Important to Know and Understand
Earth models, internal/external forces
Broad Brush Knowledge
earthquakes, volcanism, seismic waves, land forms, maps
Core Objectives
11. Identify forces and processes that shape features of Earth,
and predict changes that may result.
13. Describe and predict the impact of different catastrophic
events on Earth.
Expert Information: Wegener knew the continents moved, but could not explain how it happened.
About 60 years after Wegener’s death, scientists revisited his theory. They combined all of their
data with Wegener’s idea and created the Theory of Plate Tectonics, which states that Earth’s
surface is broken into pieces or plates.
Lithosphere
Seven major and six minor plates, composed of the
Asthenosphere
crust and the upper portion of the mantle, cover the
planet. The visible part of the plate is the crust. Mantle
Beneath the crust, a portion of the upper part of
Outer Core
the cooled, solid mantle is stuck to the bottom of
the crust. This layer is the lithosphere. These giant
Inner Core
plates float on the upper part of the mantle, which
is partially molten. This molten mantle is the
asthenosphere.
There are two major theories about the cause of plate
Crust
movement. One theory is based on the idea that there are
convection currents in the asthenosphere caused by the outer
Mantle
core heating the lower part of the mantle. The heated material
is less dense and rises to the upper part of the mantle. When
Outer Core
the warmer parts of the asthenosphere move away from the
Inner
outer core, it cools down and moves the plates with it.
Core
The other theory of plate movement is based on density. As an
ocean plate becomes older, parts of the asthenosphere cool
down and stick to the bottom of the lithosphere. The more
asthenosphere sticks to the ocean plate, the denser the oceanic
plate becomes. When the oceanic plate finally becomes denser than the underlying asthenosphere
it starts to sink. The older the plate, the faster it sinks.
Both theories explain how the plates move, and as they move, they are constantly colliding,
separating, or sliding by each other at boundaries. Geologists classify each of these boundaries.
© 2006 Plano ISD, Plano, TX
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At divergent boundaries, such as mid-ocean ridges, new rocks form where magma rises in the rift
formed as the two plates spread apart. As a result, there are no
rocks on the seafloor older than 200 million years old, but rocks
that are billions of years old are commonly found on the
ridge
continents. The divergent boundaries explain why the Atlantic
Ocean is getting larger every year.
divergent boundary
At transform boundaries like the San Andreas Fault in California,
plates slide past each other. The release of energy due to friction
caused by this type of movement causes earthquakes.
transform boundary
Since Earth is not getting larger, crust must be recycled in other locations in order to maintain
equilibrium. When plates come together a convergent boundary forms where the denser plate is
forced downward. As crust sinks, it is remelted to form magma. The magma is the source of lava
which forms volcanic mountains common in these locations. If
volcano
the plates are equally dense, the crust is forced upward. The
mountain
collision of equally dense plates results in the formation of
folded mountain ranges such as the Himalayans which are still
trench
rising at a rate of about 1 centimeter a year.
convergent boundary
Interactions between plate boundaries create features around the world. By looking at the
geology of an area, a geologist can determine what type of plate movement is happening, even
without conducting experiments. Most volcanoes are created through the collision of plates. As
one plate is forced under another, parts of the subducted plate remelts. Since the melted
material is less dense than the surrounding material in the mantle, it comes back to the surface.
Island chains such as Japan and New Zealand have been created by plate collisions.
Because the rocks that melt differ, there are different types of
volcanoes. Shield volcanoes form from magma that is not under much
pressure. It oozes out of the ground producing a wide volcano that is
not very tall. The Hawaiian Islands are shield volcanoes, with each
island being a separate volcano. Cinder cone volcanoes form from
magma under a lot of pressure. The lava explodes out of the ground
with violent force. These volcanoes do not get very large, but their
sides are very steep and mainly made out of cinders (small pieces of
ash that comes from a volcanic eruption.) Composite volcanoes form
from alternating events of violent and quiet eruptions. This results in a
very large volcano such as Mount St. Helens.
shield
cinder cone
The formation of Pangea is supported by Plate Tectonics. Plate
movement explains how Pangea separated into smaller continents, and
why they moved. This theory also goes a step further, explaining that
composite
the formation of supercontinents has happened in a repeating cycle
multiple times in Earth’s history. With ocean floor constantly being created and destroyed, it
forces the continents to collide and separate. Pangea was the most recent supercontinent, but it
was not the first and definitely not the last. America is drifting toward Asia and should collide in
around 100 million years forming Amerasia.
© 2006 Plano ISD, Plano, TX
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Procedure Using the GIS Arc View program, make a world map showing plate boundaries,
earthquakes, and volcanoes of the world. After completing the map, answer the questions.
1. In the Social Studies folder on the PISD tree, open the Arc View GIS 3_2a program.
2. Click OK to create a new project with a new view. Click Yes to add data to the view now.
3. In the Add Themes box, click on x:\esri. Open the esridata folder and select the World folder.
4. On the left side of the box, a list of files will appear. Select cntry92.shp and click OK. This is a
world map. The View1 box will reappear. In the left column, the file name will appear. Click on the
box in front of the file name. This selects the file and the map will appear.
5. Double click on the brown rectangle beside the word Afghanistan. The Legend Editor window will
open. In the Legend pull-down menu, select single symbol. Double click on the blue box beneath
the word symbol. A Fill Palette window will appear. Select the white square. Click apply and close
the Fill Palette window. Close the Legend Editor window.
6. Click on the icon with a dark + on it. This is the Add Themes icon. In the esridata folder, click
on mapables. In the mapables folder, select data. In the data folder, click on world, then
w_featr. Select the plat_lin.shp file. When the file shows in the left column of the View1 box,
click on the box to activate the file and show world plate boundaries.
7. To make the line bolder, double click on the line picture below the file name. When the Legend
Editor box appears, double click on the symbol. The Fill Palette box will appear. Change the Size
setting to 1. Choose the paintbrush icon from the tool bar and a color palette will appear. Choose
the color you want, then click on apply. Close the Fill Palette box. Close the Legend Editor window.
8. Select Add Theme again. From the w_featr file, select quakes95.shp. The file will appear in the
View1 box. Click on the box so that earthquakes appear on the world map. Change the color if desired.
9. In the View1 box, click on the quakes95.shp file name. The Legend Editor will appear. In the
Legend Type box, select Graduated Symbol. In the Classification Field box, select Magnitude.
This will display earthquakes by magnitude, with larger quakes being represented by larger circles.
Click on apply and close the box.
10. Add another theme. From the w_featr folder, choose the volcano.shp file. Double click on the
volcano.shp file when it appears in the View1 box. In the Legend Editor, change the legend type
to Graduated Symbol. Change the Classification Field to Elevation. Double click on the Symbol
box and change the color to one that shows up well on the map. Click on Apply and close the box.
Back in View1, select the file, and volcanoes should now appear on the map.
11. Add one last theme. Select wor_quak.shp from the w-featr folder. Change the symbol color and
size to 20. Click on apply. Activate the file so that it shows on the map.
12. Check your map to be sure that it shows:
 a world map
 volcanoes
 earthquakes
© 2006 Plano ISD, Plano, TX


plate boundary lines
the 10 worst recorded earthquakes
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13. Select the “T” icon on the toolbar and add a text box. Move the cursor to the top of the map,
center it, and click. A Text Properties box will appear. Type “Earthquakes and Volcanoes” in the
box and click O.K. If the textbox needs to be moved on the page, select the pointer arrow on the
toolbar and click on the text box. This will allow you to move the text box.
14. Add another text box in the bottom left corner. Type your name in the Text Properties box.
15. Click on View;Layout;Select Landscape. Once the map comes up, click on the word Title and
delete it. After getting your teacher’s approval, PRINT THE MAP!
16. Return to View1. Unselect everything EXCEPT wor-quak.shp and cntry92.shp. This will display a
map that shows only the ten worst earthquakes.
17. Click on the words wor-quak.shp on the left side of the screen and drag it above cntry92.shp. On
the toolbar, select the “i” icon. This is the identify tool. Select an earthquake and click on it. A
table will appear with specific information about the earthquake. After the table pops up, drag it
toward the bottom of the screen so that the map can be seen. Click on the remaining nine
earthquakes and complete the table below. Be sure to include all appropriate labels.
Data
Location
Rank
Date
Magnitude
Data Analysis Use the table above to answer the following questions.
1. Find the earthquake that was ranked as being the second worst (ranking of 2). This earthquake is
the worst to occur in the United States to date. What was its location, date, and magnitude?
2. Find the earthquake on the table that was given a ranking of 1. What was its location, date, and
magnitude?
3. Look at the “Earthquake and Volcano” map that you printed. Where do the majority of
earthquakes and volcanoes occur? What type of plate boundary would be located there?
4. Is there a relationship between the locations of earthquakes and volcanoes?
5. Look at the map again, and think about the location of major population centers. Do earthquakes
and volcanoes occur in areas where many people live? Why would people be willing to risk living in
these areas?
updated 6/15/2004
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6. If you notice, the Hawaii Islands are in the middle of the Pacific Plate. If there is not a plate
present, how can there be a volcano?
updated 6/15/2004
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