Locating Patterns of Earthquake and Volcano Distribution
Problem
What is the worldwide pattern of earthquake and volcano distribution?
Materials
Procedure
1. Use the information in the table to plot the location of each earthquake. Use one of the colored pencils to label on the world map each earthquake location with the letter E inside a circle.
2. Do the same thing for volcanoes. Use another colored pencil and the letter V inside a circle.
3. Use another pencil to lightly shade the areas in which earthquakes are found.
4. Use another pencil to lightly shade the areas in which volcanoes are found.
What do you think?
1. Are earthquakes scattered randomly over the surface of the Earth or are they concentrated in definite zones? Support your answer.
2. Are volcanoes scattered randomly or concentrated in definite zones?
3. Are most earthquakes and volcanoes located near the edges or near the center of continents?
4. Are there any active volcanoes near your home? Has an earthquake occurred near your home?
5. Describe any patterns you observed in the distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes.
6. What relationship exists between the locations of earthquakes and of volcanoes?
7. On a map of the United States, locate active volcanoes and areas of earthquake activity in the fifty states. Follow steps 1 through 4 from above.
| Earthquakes Longitude | Earthquakes Latitude | Volcanoes Longitude | Volcanoes Latitude |
| 120degrees W | 40degrees N | 150degrees W | 60degrees N |
| 110degrees E | 5degrees S | 70degrees W | 35degrees S |
| 77degrees W | 4degrees S | 120degrees W | 45degrees N |
| 88degrees E | 23degrees N | 61degrees W | 15degrees N |
| 121degrees E | 14degrees S | 105degrees W | 20degrees N |
| 34degrees E | 7degrees N | 75degrees W | 0degrees |
| 74degrees W | 44degrees N | 122degrees W | 40degrees N |
| 70degrees W | 30degrees S | 30degrees E | 40degrees N |
| 10degrees E | 45degrees N | 60degrees E | 30degrees N |
| 85degrees W | 13degrees N | 160degrees E | 55degrees N |
| 125degrees E | 23degrees N | 37degrees E | 3degrees S |
| 30degrees E | 35degrees N | 145degrees E | 40degrees N |
| 140degrees E | 35degrees N | 120degrees E | 10degrees S |
| 12degrees E | 46degrees N | 14degrees E | 41degrees N |
| 75degrees E | 28degrees N | 105degrees E | 5degrees S |
| 150degrees W | 61degrees N | 35degrees E | 15degrees N |
| 68degrees W | 47degrees S | 70degrees W | 30degrees S |
Links
Source: Prentice Hall Science Activity Book for The Dynamic Earth; Copyright 1994. Adapted by: A. Miles and S. Vance; Rice Model Science Laboratory, Houston, TX.
