Name_________________________
Patterns of Crustal Activity
INTRODUCTION: Studies of diastrophism have shown that crustal activities are occurring world-wide. 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 relationships between the locations of these crustal activities.
OBJECTIVE: You will plot the areas in which earthquakes and volcanoes occur most frequently, the depths at which they
happen and identify other crustal activities that appear related to these zones. You will then analyze your maps to discover
the worldwide pattern of earthquake and volcano distribution.
MATERIALS: ESRT page 5, 3 pencils (brown, red, green), Namowitz Textbook.
PROCEDURE
Part 1
1. On your World-Wide Crustal Activity Map label the Equator, Prime Meridian and International
Dateline. Label the North, South, East and West hemispheres of the map.
2. Using the information from the Locations Chart: Earthquakes, put a green dot on the map at the location
of the first earthquake and label it E1.
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2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Locations Chart
EARTHQUAKES
Latitude
Longitude
40ºN
120ºW
5ºS
119ºW
4ºS
77ºW
23ºN
88ºE
14ºS
121ºW
7ºN
35ºE
44ºN
74ºW
30ºS
70ºW
45ºN
10ºE
13ºN
85ºW
23ºN
125ºE
35ºN
30ºE
35ºN
140ºE
46ºN
12ºE
28ºN
75ºE
3. On the Data Table place an X in the box to represent the type of
boundary the earthquake is on. Write the names of the two
plates that are interacting at this location.
4. Repeat this process for the next earthquake until all have been
plotted.
5. Use the information from the
Locations Chart: Volcanoes,
put a red dot on the map at the
location of the first volcano
and label it V1.
6. On the Data Table place an X
in the box to represent the
type of boundary the volcano
is on. Write the names of the
two plates that are interacting
at this location.
7. Repeat this process for the
next volcano until all have been plotted.
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5
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Locations Chart
VOLCANOES
Latitude
Longitude
60ºN
150ºW
35ºS
70ºW
45ºN
120ºW
15ºN
61ºW
20ºN
105ºW
0º
75ºW
40ºN
122ºW
40ºN
30ºE
30ºN
60ºE
55ºN
160ºE
3ºS
37ºE
40ºN
145ºE
10ºS
120ºE
41ºN
14ºE
5ºS
105ºE
8. Using the map on pages 656 & 657 of the Namowitz Textbook as a
reference, sketch the following mountain ranges in brown: Atlas,
Rockies, Andes, Alps, Appalachians, Himalayas, Mid-Atlantic Ridge,
Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge, Southeast Indian Ocean Ridge, Mid-Ocean Ridge, Hawaiian Ridge.
9. Lightly shade the areas in which earthquakes and volcanoes are found, use the same colors that you used
when you plotted the earthquakes and volcanoes.
Part 2
1. On the Selected Epicenter Locations of South America Map provided, draw a cross-sectional line
along line AB on your map of South America to show the depth of earthquake foci.
2. After plotting the depth of earthquake foci connect them with a smooth line.
Distance below
surface of ocean (km)
3. On your cross section, copy the arrows that show the direction the crustal plates are moving.
Cross-Section of South America
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
A
B
DATA TABLE
EARTHQUAKES
EQ#
DIVER
GENT
CONVER
GENT
TRANS
FORM
MID-PLATE
(HOTSPOT)
PLATES
E1
E2
E3
E4
E5
E6
E7
E8
E9
E10
VOLCANOES
EQ#
V1
V2
V3
V4
V5
V6
V7
V8
V9
V10
DIVER
GENT
CONVER
GENT
TRANS
FORM
MID-PLATE
(HOTSPOT)
PLATES
QUESTIONS:
1. 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
of having a volcano pop up in your backyard?
5. What type of boundary are the majority of earthquakes along? Volcanoes?
6. Why is the perimeter around the Pacific Ocean referred to as the “Ring of Fire”?
7. Using your cross-section of South America, describe the pattern of earthquake depth from west to east
along line AB.
8. What surface feature on the west coast of South America has apparently formed as a result of the
collision of the two crustal plates?
CONCLUSION: Compare the pattern of earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain ranges on the
earth.
REGENTS QUESTIONS
WORLD-WIDE CRUSTAL ACTIVITY MAP