Name: __Mark Gilkes_________________________________________
Date: __________________________ Period: __2_________
Plate Tectonics
The Physical Setting: Earth Science
Lab Activity: Crustal Activity
INTRODUCTION:
Studies of tectonics have shown that crustal activities are occurring worldwide. Earthquakes,
volcanoes, and mountain ranges do not occur randomly. There are special zones in which they
occur. In this lab you will look for the relationship between the locations of these crustal activities.
OBJECTIVE:
You will plot the areas in which earthquakes occur most frequently and identify other crustal
activities that appear related to these zones.
VOCABULARY:
Plate Tectonics - Plate tectonics is a scientific theory describing the large-scale motion of the plates
making up the Earth's lithosphere since tectonic processes began on Earth between 3.3 and 3.5
billion years ago
Continental Drift - Continental drift is the hypothesis that the Earth's continents have moved over
geologic time relative to each other, thus appearing to have "drifted" across the ocean bed
Lithosphere - the rigid outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.
Asthenosphere - the upper layer of the earth's mantle, below the lithosphere, in which there is
relatively low resistance to plastic flow and convection is thought to occur.
Volcano - a mountain or hill, typically conical, having a crater or vent through which lava, rock
fragments, hot vapor, and gas are being or have erupted from the earth's crust.
Ring of Fire - The Ring of Fire is a region around much of the rim of the Pacific Ocean where many
volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur.
Earthquake - a sudden and violent shaking of the ground, sometimes causing great destruction, as
a result of movements within the earth's crust or volcanic action.
Leigh-Manuell - 1
Lab Activity: Crustal Activity
PROCEDURE A:
1. On Map A, draw a line to represent the equator, prime meridian, and international date
line. 2. Using the small symbol (!) and a colored pencil, plot all the major earthquakes onto
Map A. 3. Be sure to label the date of the earthquake.
PROCEDURE B:
Latitude
Longitude
March 4
5º N
120º E
March 28
30º N
80º E
175º W
April 13
20º S
175º W
40º S
75º W
June 15
20º N
97º W
May 16
22º S
180º
September 20
24º N
120º E
May 21
1º N
120º E
October 13
55º N
161º W
June 1
53º N
160º E
November 29
1º S
90º E
July 17
3º S
140º E
December 10
36º S
97º W
August 4
1º S
80º W
December 11
15º N
120º E
November 29
2º S
125º E
December 29
10º S
165º E
Dates (1998)
Latitude
Longitude
January 12
15º S
180º
January 27
22º S
180º
March 29
18º S
April 1
Dates (1999)
1. On Map B, draw a line to represent the equator, prime meridian, and international date
line. 2. Using the small symbol (▲) and a colored pencil, plot all the volcanoes on Map B.
3. Be sure to label the name of the volcano.
Date
Latitude
Longitude
Krakatau
6º S
105º E
Vesuvius
40º N
15º E
Katmai
58º N
155º W
Mt. St. Helens
46º N
122º W
Mt. Rainier
47º N
122º W
Mauna Loa
20º N
156º W
Paricutin
20º N
102º W
Lokon
1º N
125º E
Tambora
8º S
118º E
Date
Fuji
Latitude
Longitude
35º N
138º E
Leigh-Manuell - 2
Lab Activity: Crustal Activity
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Your world map should show that earthquakes do not occur at random locations. Describe the
pattern of earthquakes on your map?
2. How are the locations of earthquakes, mountain ranges, and volcanic activity related?
3. What regions of North and South America show the greatest crustal activity?
4. According to your map, what is the probability of having either a major earthquake shake your
house or having a volcano pop up in your backyard?
5. Why is the perimeter around the Pacific Ocean referred to as the “Ring of Fire”?
CONCLUSION: Compare the patterns of earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain ranges on
Earth?
Leigh-Manuell - 3
0
n
°
g
e
a
r
t
M
L
a
b
Ac
M
a
p
s
h
o
w
i
hq
u
t
h
a
a
r
k
ke
o
e
p
ic
e
u
g
h
s
t
iv
e
it
n
1990
a
y
t
e
:
p
r
C
s
A
fr
o
:
r
u
m
E
a
s
1
97
0
r
t
t
a
hq
u
iv
l
c
it
A
y
t
Leigh-Manuell - 4
77
00
00
e
s
r
t
°°
°°
66
00
°°
44
s
a
u
11
66
00
00
°°
°°
22
p
11
0°
00
t
00
io
b
10
,
000
ye
°°
00
n
a
s
r
°°
A
c
s
22
22
00
11
44
00
°°
88
00
°°
t
00
°°
88
°°
00
°°
h
(H
a
o
t
66
77
00
a
n
00
11
v
°°
66
°°
C
e
66
00
:
e
44
00
00
it
c
h
°°
11
iv
lo
y
00
°°
t
e
00
)
M
°°
r
o
°°
c
u
a
66
c
00
11
22
00
p
s
u
°°
11
44
44
00
r
00
°°
r
t
B
°°
a
e
°°
:
R
d
88
°°
c
Vo
w
22
11
11
o
00
44
22
00
00
°°
°°
°°
r
d
l
A
e
00
lc
c
a
it
h
n
t
in
iv
o
11
00
s
la
L
e
it
y
Leigh-Manuell - 5