Name _____________________________pd. ____ Seat #_____ Color _____________
Volcano Tracking
Background: There are more than 1,500 active volcanoes in the world. An active volcano is one that has erupted
at least once in the past 10,000 years and is likely to erupt again. Because most of the Earth’s volcanoes are
hidden under the oceans, people have not been able to witness their eruptions. Every year, about 50-60 volcanoes
erupt on land where people might be able to see them. Scientists estimate that there are about 200 volcanic
eruptions under the oceans. The activity below will ask you to plot 24 volcanoes and recognize a few patterns to
where and how they form.
Procedure:
1. With a PENCIL, using latitude and longitude lines, mark each of the volcanoes listed in
the Volcano table onto your blank map by NUMBER.
2. Draw a small volcano with lava coming out in the bottom right corner of this page.
3. Color code (and make a key for) the 3 different types of volcanoes:
composite/stratovolcano, cinder, and shield.
4. Compare your map to the picture of the plates in your book pgs. 712-713 (or on the back
of your reading quiz). With a pencil, lightly draw in the plate boundaries & label the
plates on your map accordingly.
5. Also looking at pgs. 712-713, what direction(s) are the plates moving relative to one
another? Draw in with arrows on your map & label with a “D” for divergent, “T” for
transform, or “C” for convergent.
6. Put a star next to any volcanoes that do not fall along the plate boundaries.
7. Fill out the table below by placing an “X” in the box if the plate is oceanic OR continental.
Plate Name
Pacific
Nazca
South American
North American
Philippine
Eurasian
Cocos
Oceanic
Continental
Volcano Table: Label these volcanoes on your map by NUMBER. USE PENCIL! Then color code
them based on their type.
Name
1. Azul
2. Bezymianny
3. Cerro Negro
4. Cotopaxi
5. Erebus
6. Katmai
7. Kilauea
8. Krakatau
9. Ksudach
10. La Palma
11. Lassen Peak
12. Mt. Etna
13. Mt. Fuji
14. Mt. Pelee
15. Mt. Rainier
16. Mt. St. Helens
17. Nevada del
Ruiz
18. Paricutin
19. Pinatubo
20. Stromboli
21. Sunset Crater
22. Surtsey
23. Tambora
24. Vesuvius
Type
Composite
Composite
Cinder cone
Composite
Composite
Composite
Shield
Composite
Shield
Composite
Composide
Shield
Composite
Composite
Composite
Composite
Composite
Latitude
36 S
56 N
12 N
0.7 S
77 S
58 N
19 N
6S
52 N
29 N
40 N
38 N
35 N
15 N
47 N
46 N
5N
Longitude
71 W
161 E
87 W
78 W
167 E
155 W
155W
105 E
157 E
18 W
121 W
15 E
139 E
61 W
122 W
122 W
75 W
Cinder cone
Composite
Composite
Cinder cone
Shield
Composite
Composite
20 N
15 N
39 N
35 N
63 N
8S
41 N
102 W
120 E
15 E
111 W
20 W
118 E
Observations:
1. What pattern do you see as far as the location of most of the volcanoes?
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This area is called the Pacific Ring of fire. It makes a horseshoe pattern around the pacific
plate/ocean.
2. What percentage of the volcanoes are located in the Ring of Fire. Calculate by using the
following formula:
# in shaded area X 100 = % of volcanoes in the Ring of Fire
Total #
3. What percentage of the volcanoes are located outside of the Ring of Fire? To find out use
the following formula:
# NOT in shaded area X 100 = % of volcanoes outside the Ring of Fire
Total #
4. What major volcanic zone are those NOT along plate boundaries, such as the Ring of Fire,
considered? (see notes for 3 zones if not sure) ____________________
Briefly describe how these form.
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5. Types of volcanoes in the Ring of Fire:
# of stratovolcanoes: ______________
# of shield volcanoes: ______________
# of cinder cones:
______________
6. What type of volcano is most common in the Ring of Fire? _____________________
Describe this type of volcano (use notes)
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7. What plate movement most often occurs around the Ring of Fire? Circle one.
Divergent
Convergent
Transform
8. Why do you think so many volcanoes occur along the Ring of Fire?
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