MAPPING EARTHQUAKES AND VOLCANOES
In this activity you will locate where some of the major volcanic and earthquake activities have occurred. You
will examine if there is a relationship between the location of these volcanoes and earthquakes and the crustal
plates. You will also see if there is a relationship between volcanic and earthquake activity and the major
mountain ranges of the world.
MATERIALS: map of the world, data sheet, colored pencils, map of the crustal plates.
PROCEDURE:
1. Using the data sheet, find the location of the volcanoes. Locate volcano A. With a (RED) colored
pencil, mark a on the map at that location. Remember that longitude marked is across the top and
Latitude is marked along the side of the map. Continue this until you have located all 17
volcanoes marked their location on the map.
2. Using the data sheet, find the locations of the major earthquakes.
http://www.iris.edu/seismon/last30days.phtml Locate earthquake 1. With a different (ORANGE
or PURPLE) colored pencil, mark a 1 on the map at that location. Continue this until all of the
earthquakes have been located and marked on the map.
3. On the map of the world, draw (YELLOW) in where YOU predict the crustal plate boundaries
should be. DO NOT look at the text or a map of tectonic plates for this, use your data only.
4. On the map of the world, draw (BLUE) in the ACTUAL crustal plates; include arrows showing
the directions the plates are moving. Use your text or the overhead for your reference.
5. Answer the following questions:
A. Which ocean has a ring of volcanoes around it?
B. Where are most of the volcanoes located in relationship to the crustal plates?
C. Which volcanoes are not located on the edge of a crustal plate? What might account for the
location of these volcanoes?
D. Where are most of the major earthquakes in relationship to the crustal plates? Does the recent
earthquake data obtained from the Internet follow the same pattern? Why or why not?
E. What is the relationship between the location of the major volcanoes with the location of the
major earthquakes?
F. Are most mountain ranges located in an area of major earthquake and or volcanic areas?
G. Are there any major earthquakes not located on the edge of crustal plates? Can you explain
the location of these earthquakes?
DATA SHEET
MAJOR VOLCANOES*
Volcanoes
Name
MAJOR EARTHQUAKES*
Longitude Latitude
Earthquakes Location Longitude Latitude
35 S
1
China
110 E
35 N
Tungurahua 80 W
0N
2
India
88 E
22 N
C
Pelee
61 W
15 N
3
Pakistan
65 E
25 N
D
Tajumulco
90 W
15 N
4
Syria
36 E
34 N
E
Popocatepetl 100 W
20 N
5
Italy
16 E
38 N
F
Lassen
122 W
40 N
6
Portugal
9W
38 N
G
Rainier
122 W
47 N
7
Chile
72 W
33 S
H
Katmai
155 W
60 N
8
Chile
75 W
50 S
I
Fujiyama
139 E
35 N
9
Equador
78 W
0
J
Tambora
120 E
10 S
10
Nicaragua 85 W
13 N
K
Krakatoa
108 E
5S
11
Guatemala 91 W
15 N
L
Mauna Loa 155 W
20 N
12
California 118 W
34 N
M
Kilimanjaro 37 E
3S
13
California 122 W
37 N
N
Etna
15 E
38 N
14
Alaska
150 W
61 N
O
Vesuvius
14 E
41 N
15
Japan
139 E
36 N
P
Teide
16 W
28 N
16
Japan
143 E
43 N
Q
Laki
20 W
65 N
A
Aconcagua
B
70 W