Name: _________________________________
Date: _____________ Per. _______________
Volcanoes and Plate Tectonics
Instructions:
1st. Use your text book to begin answering questions #3~10.
2nd Use these links to help you answer questions #1~2
Global Volcanism Project - Volcanoes of the World
http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/
This Dynamic Planet
http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/about/edu/dynamicplanet/index.php
When and where on the planet have volcanoes erupted recently? Why do volcanoes occur in those locations?
Can volcanoes happen anywhere, or are they more likely in some areas?
In this activity, you will find out about the world's most recently active volcanoes. You'll also learn about the
different ways that tectonic plates can interact along plate boundaries and which situations are likely to cause
volcanoes to erupt.
1.
a.
Find out about recent volcanic activity. Complete the first three columns of the table below for
these eruptions.
Date of
Eruption Volcano Name
b.
Country/ Latitude &
Longitude
Tectonic Plates
Involved
Name: _________________________________
c.
Date: _____________ Per. _______________
Most volcanoes occur along the edges of Earth's tectonic plates. For help completing the last
column, refer to this USGS plate tectonic map. Using the latitude and longitude given in the
volcano list above, you can determine the tectonic plates by locating the ten volcanoes on
this NASA map of the world at http://southport.jpl.nasa.gov/imagemaps/
2.
Choose any one of the ten volcanoes and click on its link on the list of volcanoes you visited above.
Summarize the details of its recent eruption.
3.
To learn more about what can happen when tectonic plates meet, fill in the blanks in the following
paragraph.
Three things can happen when tectonic plates meet.
Plates push against each other along a _______________________ plate boundary.
Plates move apart along a ___________________________ plate boundary.
Plates slip past each other sideways at ___________________________ plate boundaries.
4.
What happens along divergent plate boundaries. What happens as two plates move away from each
other?
5.
Now explore convergent boundaries. What is a subduction zone?
6.
Here's more information about convergent boundaries. Describe what happens when a dense
oceanic tectonic plate meets a less-dense continental plate.
7.
Describe how magma forms in a subduction zone.
8.
What is a magma chamber?
9.
What happens when the molten rock breaks through the surface?
10. Volcanoes that occur at neither divergent nor convergent boundaries are hot spot volcanoes.
Describe how hot spot volcanoes form and give an example.