Plate Tectonics World Map Group Project – Items To Label
Directions: You will be working in a group of 4 to make a tectonic plate map of the earth. Each student
will have responsibility for labeling ¼ of the planet. Please note that some labels may go on more than one
of your maps, since the plates don’t conveniently terminate to make 4 equal chunks of the planet. Also,
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/earth/Continents.shtml has a map titled
"Earth's Major Plates", and my outbox has a document called “Plates Image With Labels” that are both very
helpful with most of the labeling you will have to do for this project. (see plans for site updates)
TECTONIC PLATES #’s 1-15 on Map - Use black or blue ink to write the NUMBER AND THE
PLATE NAME ON YOUR MAP, highlight the label in orange when ink is dry. Be sure to put the initials
of the person(s) who are responsible for EACH label in the space to the left of the label.
ALL LABELS MUST HAVE INITIALS NEXT TO THEM BEFORE YOU START TO LABEL YOUR
ACTUAL PAGE OF THE MAP!
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
North American Plate
Caribbean Plate
South American Plate
Scotia Plate
Eurasian Plate
6. Australian Plate
7. Indian Plate
8. Arabian Plate
9. African Plate
10. Antarctic Plate
Significant Geological Places #’s 16-37 on Map
11. Philippine Plate
12. Pacific Plate
13. Cocos Plate
14. Juan de Fuca Plate
15. Nazca Plate
- Use black or blue ink to write the
NUMBER AND THE PLACE NAME ON YOUR MAP, highlight in yellow when ink is dry.
Once again, ALL LABELS MUST HAVE INITIALS NEXT TO THEM BEFORE YOU START
TO LABEL YOUR ACTUAL PAGE OF THE MAP!
16. Himalaya Mountains
17. Andes Mountains
18. Appalachian Mountains
19. Atlas Mountains
20. Mariana Trench
21. Aleutian Trench
22. Java Trench
23. Peru-Chile Trench
24. Easter Islands (hot spot,
by S. America)

25. Afar (Hot spot by Saudi
Arabia)
26. Reunion (Hot spot by
Madagascar)
27. Hawaii (hot spot)
28. Iceland (hot spot/sea floor
spread
29. Mid-Atlantic Ridge (2 or
3 map parts)
30. Central Indian Ridge (2
map parts)
31. Southeast and southwest
Indian Ridge (2 map parts)
32. Pacific Antarctic Ridge (2
map parts)
33. Juan de Fuca Ridge
34. East Pacific Rise (2
Maps)
35. Ring of Fire (pink
highliter)
36. Great Rift Valley
37. San Andreas Fault
If you look at the rubric, you will see that you also need to label an island arc, plus a recent major
volcano and earthquake [with their magnitudes (VEI and Richter), dates and locations – in purple] –
complete that work when we reach PART 3 OF THE PROJECT.
Boundary Types – Use the colors listed below to draw lines for the plate boundaries on your part of the
world map and "label" each plate. Make sure that your boundaries line up with those drawn by your other 3
teammates if they are boundaries that cross over into their section of the map. Draw arrows to indicate
which directions the plates are moving at each boundary. Use appropriate colors to color a circle
around each arrow pair.
Divergent Boundary = Red
Convergent Boundary = Blue
Transform Boundary = Green
Name: _________________________________________ Group#________ Per:_____ Student #_____
Plate Tectonics World Map Group Project Rubric
PART 1 OF THE PROJECT: Group-related score - 10 points per person - You have made a visible effort
to make your portion of the map “agree/fit in” with the other 3 map sections.

This means that the 4 of you must meet prior to starting your personal maps so that you can agree on
some basic items that will allow your map keys to contain the same symbols for the same info!

Your meeting will also be used to decide who will need to use each of the 37 items on the list that
you have been given. Don’t forget to write each person’s initials next to the items for which they are
responsible.

You will also need to cut the appropriate edges of the maps so that they
“match up” with each other prior to starting to draw or label anything.

It’s a good idea for each of you to label all of the parts on your part of
the map, even if they also appear on other parts of the map – for example, the ring of fire.
PART 2 OF THE PROJECT: Individual score – out of 50
Your
Points
Possible Map Item
Points
6
divergent boundaries (draw/label in red)
6
6
convergent boundaries (draw/label in blue)
transform boundaries (draw/label in green)
3
a hotspot labeled (from list, black or blue
ink, highlight in yellow after ink dries)
an island arc labeled (on list I gave you
later in this document, label it in purple!)
mid ocean ridges labeled (from list, black
or blue ink, highlight in yellow)
find the rate of sea floor spreading at your
mid ocean ridge(s) and label on the map.
(my outbox, use brown pencil to label)
an ocean trench labeled (from list, black or
blue ink, highlight in yellow on dry ink)
a major volcano labeled (include the VEI,
date and location – label in purple.)
a large earthquake labeled. (include MMS
Scale, the date and location - label in
purple.)
Map of your 1/4 the earth has all tectonic
plates and oceans neatly/properly labeled.
(black or blue ink, orange highlighter)
3
3
3
3
3
3
11
Comments
PART 3 OF THE PROJECT: Island Arcs and Marine Trenches:
* Reminder: Don’t forget to make your map key!
10 Nov Log question:
What’s wrong with this
picture being on this page?
1-9 below are a list of what you need to write down on the front of your map in the proper location, if possible.
If space is needed, you may use the back of your map, but you need a big asterisk on the front that indicates you
need to look at the back to find this info:
From the original rubric THESE HAVE ALL BEEN CHOSEN BY MR C, LOOK BELOW FOR YOUR
ASSIGNED ITEMS:
 An ocean trench labeled (from list, black or blue ink, highlight in yellow on dry ink)
 An island arc labeled (not on list I gave you, look it up, figure it out, label it in purple!)
 A major volcano labeled (include the VEI of one of its major eruptions, date and location – label in
purple.)
 A large earthquake labeled. (include MMS Scale, the date and location – label in purple.)
What you need to do, either on the front or back of your map:
41. Location of island arc (plot it on your map – be sure to use the right colors from the rubric, the trench
should already be drawn and labeled on your map – the people with South America on their map need to see
me, since they don’t have an island arc assigned to them)
42. Depth of trench (in feet and meters)
43. Height of tallest volcano along the trench (this is the summit height of volcano I am assigning to you,
MAKE YOUR OWN SYMBOL IN THE KEY)
44. Type of volcano represented by #3, the tallest volcano in the region (composite/stratovolcano, cinder cone,
shield volcano)
45. Composition of that volcano (Once you know what type it is, you can look up the composition of
volcanoes of that type. If you have to guess, write down the reason for your guess)
46. Name of subducted plate (also see question #47 – you should be able to use your map for both questions)
47. Name of over-riding plate
48. Depth of deepest quakes below subduction zone
49. Large earthquake labeled (make your own symbol, but use the quake I gave you in your section of the
map – see the lists for each trench on the next few pages find out which quake to use). Be sure to include
the MAGNITUDE by using the MMS (Moment Magnitude Scale). Also add the date and location. The
Richter Scale of Earthquakes that people often talk about doesn’t work properly for earthquakes above 6.5
or 7, MAKE A NOTE THAT INDICATES THAT FACT- either on the back or front of your map.
Here are links explaining these two earthquake scales and comparing them, if you are curious:
A. Explain MMS (w/ some comparison): http://www.kids-fun-science.com/moment-magnitude-scale.html
B. Video to explain MMS and Richter: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL3KGK5eqaw
C. Energy from an earthquake – calculator: http://alabamaquake.com/energy.html
D. Just know that the Richter scale isn’t good for huge earthquakes, and underestimates the size of quakes
above a 6.5 or 7. The largest quake ever recorded was the one in Chile (see below) and was changed
from about an 8 to 8.5 on the Richter Scale to a 9.5 on the Moment Magnitude Scale (MMS).
Cool website to use later when explaining earthquakes and Hawaii:
http://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Earth-Science/6/Plates-Plate-Boundaries-and-Driving-Forces/66
SEE THE NEXT PAGE FOR LINKS THAT HELP WITH YOUR WORK!
Your original trench assignments from the rubric on page 2 of this document:
16.
Mariana Trench
A. For question #48, deepest quakes on record in the area - look at the dark blue parts of the
image on the right, they match up with the colors and km depths on the key:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/data/slab/images/izu_slab1.jpg (for questions 46-47, you should
also be able to determine the subducted and over-riding plate from this image plus your
properly labeled map)
B. National Geographic info about the trench and image/name of related island arc:
http://www.deepseachallenge.com/the-expedition/mariana-trench/
C. Agrigan (Agrihan) - tallest volcano in northern Marianas chain
http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/vwdocs/volc_images/southeast_asia/mariana/agrigan.html
D. Agrigan VEI: http://www.bgs.ac.uk/vogripa/searchVOGRIPA.cfc?method=detail&id=1314
E. Cool info about the trench’s wildlife refuge: http://www.fws.gov/refuge/mariana_trench/
F. Extra info (just interesting, not needed for project): Non-volcanic mountain heights:
http://peakery.com/region/northern-mariana-islands-mountains/
G. Earthquake you will use: http://earthquaketrack.com/r/mariana-islands/biggest - look for the
one that happened 21 years ago (1993)
H. Damage and assorted info from the quake (with the wrong depth) - including
LIQUEFACTION (vocab word for later in class while we study quakes):
http://www.propertyrisk.com/refcentr/guameq.htm
I. Small tsunami: http://articles.latimes.com/1993-08-09/news/mn-22018_1_tropical-storm
J. Not needed for project, but here is a map of the Philippine plate and the speed with which it
moves, plus the earthquakes around the plate:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/tectonic/images/philippinesea_tsum.pdf
K. Nice image of the subduction zone for the trench: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izu-BoninMariana_Arc#mediaviewer/File:SubZone.jpg
17.
Aleutian Trench (you know the name of the island arc)
A. For question #48, deepest quakes on record in the area - look at the light blue parts of the
image on the bottom, they match up with the colors and km depths on the key:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/data/slab/images/alu_slab1.jpg (for questions 46-47, you should
also be able to determine the subducted and over-riding plate from this image plus your
properly labeled map)
B. Tallest volcano (look down the page that I have given you, it’s the one at the top of the
tallest peaks list): http://www.peakbagger.com/range.aspx?rid=1030
C. A very nice and accurate blog about the volcano: http://shishaldinvolcano.blogspot.com/
D. Volcano: Look for the 1824 eruption’s VEI in the “Eruptive History” tab:
http://www.volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=311360
E. Length, depth width of trench: http://oceana.org/en/explore/marine-places/aleutian-trench
F. Type: http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/shishaldin.html
G. Major Earthquake you will use – read this to get started:
http://srl.geoscienceworld.org/content/85/2/245.full
H. More background quake info: http://www.usc.edu/dept/tsunamis/alaska/1964/webpages/
I. The rest of the major quake info!
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/events/alaska1964/
18. Java Trench (the continuation of the Sunda Trench – figure out which nation is near the
trench, and you know the name of the island arc)
A. For question #48, deepest quakes on record in the area - look at the dark blue parts of the
image on the bottom, they match up with the colors and km depths on the key:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/data/slab/images/sum_slab1.jpg (for questions 46-47, you should
also be able to determine the subducted and over-riding plate from this image plus your
properly labeled map)
B. General info: http://thejavatrench.weebly.com/geologyoceanography.html
C. The big volcano we care about and will use for the VEI and date of eruption
http://www.geology.sdsu.edu/how_volcanoes_work/Krakatau.html (However, use the current
size of the “New” volcano that is there, JUST GOOGLE ITS NAME AND HEIGHT):
D. Type of volcano: http://www.universetoday.com/40601/mount-krakatoa/
E. Trench depth, length, etc: http://oceana.org/en/explore/marine-places/java-trench (note that
the names of the involved plates are different here than in the other source – why is that?
F. Your big earthquake happened in Sumatra in 2004 (data is given for the MMS, the Richter
Scale doesn’t work for a quake this big). Use “ctrl + f” to search “Sumatra” on this page:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/most_destructive.php
G. Here’s some more info on your big earthquake:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2004/us2004slav/
H. Nice image of the subduction zone near Sumatra (location of the quake, and many others):
http://www.earthobservatory.sg/resources/images/subduction-zone-under-sumatraindonesia#.VGD9JvnF_kZ
19.
Peru-Chile Trench – you won’t be labelling an island arc, do this instead:
A. For question #48, deepest quakes on record in the area - look at the blue parts of the image on
the right, they match up with the colors and km depths on the key:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/data/slab/images/sam_slab1.jpg (for questions 46-47, you should
also be able to determine the subducted and over-riding plate from this image plus your
properly labeled map)
B. Another image for question #48: Depth of deepest quakes ever recorded at this trench, scroll
down to “oceanic meets continental” on this site:
http://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Earth-Science/6/Plates-Plate-Boundaries-andDriving-Forces/66
C. Trench length, depth, plates, etc: http://oceana.org/en/explore/marine-places/peru-chile-trench
D. Look at the map, pick the right volcano – also gives the volcano type (VEI on this one is
unknown, since it was so long ago, you can write “VEI: Unknown” on your map):
http://geology.com/records/largest-volcano/
E. Your map shows that this set of mountains isn’t an island arc – explain why it isn’t an example
– YOU WILL DO THIS INSTEAD OF AN ISLAND ARC – COME UP TO MEET
WITH ME!!!!!
F. The largest earthquake ever measured is the one you will use (info on size and date):
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/events/1960_05_22_articles.php (note that the
original intensity was changed UPWARD to 9.5 MMS from about 8.5 on the Richter Scale)
G. Depth of the quake’s focus (plus the original incorrect magnitude of the quake)
H. More scary info about this 600 mile long earthquake:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/events/1960_05_22.php
I. Tsunami map of this quake (you don’t need this, it’s just interesting).
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/events/1960_05_22_tsunami.php
An EXTRA trench and arc, just for the fun of looking at things. This one is not an assignment.
A. Kermadec-Tonga Trench and Kermadec Island Arc
1. http://www.thekermadecs.org/the-kermadecs/about
2. http://www.thekermadecs.org/geology
3. http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/05fire/background/kermadecarc/media/kermadecarc_leg1
_wm320.wmv (wave file of NOAA submarine “flyby” made in 2005-6, shows the trench and islands
very well. – started from this page: http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/05fire/welcome.html
)
4. http://www.thekermadecs.org/ - click on geology to hear more about the amazing depth of the
Kermadec trench.
5. Extra info – bird and forest sanctuary: http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/kermadec-ocean-sanctuary
6. Earthquake and Tsunami caused by the plate subduction at the north end of the trench, where it is
called the Tonga trench.
And now, for something ridiculous:
Richter
Magnitude
TNT for Seismic
Energy Yield
-1.5
6
1.0
30
1.5
320
2.0
1
2.5
4.6
3.0
29
3.5
73
4.0
1,000
4.5
5,100
5.0
32,000
5.5
80,000
6.0
1 million
6.5
5 million
7.0
32 million
Thermonuclear Weapon
7.5
160 million
8.0
1 billion
8.5
5 billion
9.0
32 billion
10.0
1 trillion
12.0
160 trillion
Example
(approximate)
ounces
pounds
pounds
ton
tons
tons
tons
tons
tons
tons
tons
tons
tons
tons
Breaking a rock on a lab table
Large Blast at a Construction Site
tons
tons
tons
tons
tons
tons
Landers, CA Quake, 1992
San Francisco, CA Quake, 1906
Anchorage, AK Quake, 1964
Chilean Quake, 1960
(San-Andreas type fault circling Earth)
(Fault Earth in half through center,
OR Earth's daily receipt of solar energy)
Large Quarry or Mine Blast
Small Nuclear Weapon
Average Tornado (total energy)
Little Skull Mtn., NV Quake, 1992
Double Spring Flat, NV Quake, 1994
Northridge, CA Quake, 1994
Hyogo-Ken Nanbu, Japan Quake, 1995; Largest
160 trillion tons of dynamite is a frightening yield of energy. Consider, however,
that the Earth receives that amount in sunlight every day.