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Predicting Tectonic Activity

Real World Question
Earthquakes occur every day on Earth. Many of them are too small to be felt by humans, but all of them can tell us something about our planet. Active volcanoes can do the same. Active volcanoes often form at plate boundaries. Can tectonically active areas be predicted by plotting locations of earthquake epicenters and volcanic eruptions? Think about where earthquakes and volcanoes have occurred in the past. Make a Hypothesis about whether the locations of earthquake epicenters and active volcanoes can be used to predict tectonically active areas.

Goals

  • Research the locations of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions around the world.


  • Plot earthquake epicenters and the locations of volcanic eruptions obtained from the Glencoe Science Web site.


  • Predict tectonically active locations based on a plot of the locations of earthquake epicenters and active volcanoes.

Data Sources
Make a Plan
  1. Make a data table like the one shown below.


  2. Collect data for earthquake epicenters and volcanic eruptions for at least the past two weeks. Your data should include the longitude and latitude for each location. For help, refer to the data sources.
Follow Your Plan
  1. Make sure your teacher approves your plan and your data table before you proceed.

  2. Plot the locations of earthquake epicenters and volcanic eruptions on a map of the world. Use an overlay of tissue paper or plastic.


  3. After you have collected and plotted the locations of earthquake epicenters and volcanic eruptions predict where the tectonically active areas on Earth are.


  4. Compare and contrast the areas that you predicted to be tectonically active with the plate boundary map shown in Figure 9.
Analyze Your Data
  1. What areas on Earth do you predict to be the locations of tectonic activity?


  2. How close did your prediction come to the actual location of tectonically active areas?
Conclude and Apply
  1. How could you make your predictions closer to the locations of actual tectonic activity?


  2. Would data from a longer period of time help? Explain.


  3. What types of plate boundaries were close to your locations of earthquake epicenters? Volcanic eruptions?


  4. Explain which types of plate boundaries produce volcanic eruptions. Be specific.

Communicating Your Data

Post your data in the table provided.

Predicting Tectonic Activity
Earthquake Epicenter / Volcanic Eruption
Longitude
Latitude
Earthquake Epicenter / Volcanic Eruption
Longitude
Latitude
Earthquake Epicenter / Volcanic Eruption
Longitude
Latitude
Earthquake Epicenter / Volcanic Eruption
Longitude
Latitude
Earthquake Epicenter / Volcanic Eruption
Longitude
Latitude
Earthquake Epicenter / Volcanic Eruption
Longitude
Latitude
* City:
* State:
* School: