What is the "Ring of Fire"?
Most earthquakes and volcanic eruptions do not strike randomly but occur in specific areas, such as along plate boundaries. One such area is the circum-Pacific Ring of Fire, where the Pacific Plate meets many surrounding plates. The Ring of Fire is the most seismically and volcanically active zone in the world.
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Reducing risk where tectonic plates collide
Most of the world’s earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, and volcanic eruptions are caused by the continuous motions of the many tectonic plates that make up the Earth’s outer shell. The most powerful of these natural hazards occur in subduction zones, where two plates collide and one is thrust beneath another. The U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) “...
Gomberg, Joan S.; Ludwig, K.A.
This dynamic planet: World map of volcanoes, earthquakes, impact craters and plate tectonics
Our Earth is a dynamic planet, as clearly illustrated on the main map by its topography, over 1500 volcanoes, 44,000 earthquakes, and 170 impact craters. These features largely reflect the movements of Earth's major tectonic plates and many smaller plates or fragments of plates (including microplates). Volcanic eruptions and earthquakes are awe-...
Simkin, Tom; Tilling, Robert I.; Vogt, Peter R.; Kirby, Stephen H.; Kimberly, Paul; Stewart, David B.
This dynamic earth: the story of plate tectonics
In the early 1960s, the emergence of the theory of plate tectonics started a revolution in the earth sciences. Since then, scientists have verified and refined this theory, and now have a much better understanding of how our planet has been shaped by plate-tectonic processes. We now know that, directly or indirectly, plate tectonics...
Kious, W. Jacquelyne; Tilling, Robert I.
USGS publishes a new blueprint that can help make subduction zone areas more resilient
Subduction zone events pose significant threats to lives, property, economic vitality, cultural and natural resources and quality of life. The tremendous magnitudes of these events are unique to subduction zones, and they can have cascading consequences that reverberate around the globe.
EarthWord–Subduction
It’s not flirting for submarines, but this week’s EarthWord does feature the ocean...
Subduction Fault Zone Diagram
A figure showing the oceanic plate sliding beneath the continental plate. Credit: USGS
Redoubt Volcano viewed from the northwest following the April 4, 2009 eruption
Redoubt Volcano viewed from the northwest following the April 4, 2009 eruption (Event 19). Steam rises from the summit crater, pyroclastic flow and surge deposits drape the flanks, and lahar deposits cover the Drift River Valley.
A gas plume arising from Augustine Volcano during it's eruptive phase 2005-06.
A gas plume arising from Augustine Volcano during it's eruptive phase 2005-06. This photo was taken during a FLIR/maintenance flight on January 24, 2006.
Lava Floor
This is an animated GIF of the collapse of the Pu'u 'O 'o Crater Floor on March 5, 2011.
Oceanic subduction zone
General diagram of an oceanic subduction zone. Sumatra and the Andaman Islands are part of an island arc.
this figure is taken from the online edition of This Dynamic Earth
Pacific Plate boundaries and relative motion
Map of the Pacific Plate boundaries and relative motion, from This Dynamic Planet: World Map of Volcanoes, Earthquakes, Impact Craters, and Plate Tectonics. Third Edition (Published 2006)
By Tom Simkin,1 Robert I. Tilling,2 Peter R. Vogt3,1 Stephen H. Kirby,2 Paul Kimberly,1 and David B.
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