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Ring of Fire Activity Background: 1. 2. 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: 1. 2. 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: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 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?”