Skills Lab; Mapping Earthquakes an Volcanoes

Guiding Question;

Is there a pattern in the locations of earthquakes and volcanoes?

I don't think so because they are mostly all in different latitude and longitude, but maybe if I really study the numbers I might find a pattern (ie. putting either the latitude or the longitude in order).

Analyze and Conclude

1. 

• How are earthquakes distributed on the map?

Most of the earthquakes seem to be quite close to the volcanoes, most of them around the ring of fire, and one even inside the 'ring'.

• Are they scattered evenly or concentrated in zones?

They are mostly in or around the ring of fire, but some are also scattered in places nowhere near the ring. Some are in the middle of the ocean, while some are on land.

2.

• How are volcanoes distributed on the map?

A lot of them are either in or around the pacific plate, while the few others occur around Asia and Europe, destroying land around them when they erupt.

• Are they scattered evenly or in concentrated zones?

Mostly in concentrated zones, the ring of fire, but also evenly scattered in places that I personally wouldn't expect them.

3.

• From your data, what can you infer about the relationship between earthquakes and volcanoes?

Well, most of them are next to each other around the pacific plate and the North American plate, but if they aren't there, they are still close to each other supposedly around other plates.

4.

• Suppose you added the locations of additional earthquakes and volcanoes to your map. Would the overall pattern of earthquakes and volcanoes change? Explain in writing why you think the pattern would or would not change.

I don't think the pattern would change, because earthquakes and volcanoes happen for the same reason, two plates colliding creating a whole for magma to escape and a lot of shakes in the earth while it's happening. I think the pattern is about the plates, how fast and in which direction they move, so if plates have been moving the same direction all of their existence, there would be a lot of volcanoes and earthquakes in the same places. but now that I think about it, the plates haven;t always been moving in the same direction, so maybe if we put some really ancient volcanoes and/or earthquakes on the map, it would disrupt the pattern.

More to Explore

On a map of Serbia, locate active volcanoes and areas of earthquake activity. Determine the distance from your home to the nearest active volcano.

Stromboli in Italy looks like the nearest active volcano to Serbia - since there are none here. It takes 19 hours and 24 minutes and the distance is 1,762 km from Belgrade.