May 28, 2017 Stephanie Tang

Plate Tectonics Virtual Lab

Objectives:
Plot the geographic locations-given latitude and longitude-of a number of
earthquake epicenters and volcanoes on a world map.
Observe, describe, and analyze the plotted data.
Compare and contrast any patterns of volcanic and earthquake activity
occurrences in relationship to Earth's plate boundaries.

Procedure: The Earthquakes button is selected when you open the activity. The map
shows the locations of six earthquake epicenters. You can find a description of each of
these earthquakes in the table below the map.
1. Look at the table to find out the latitude and longitude measurements of the first
earthquake's epicenter. Find and click this location on the map.
2. Using the arrows, scroll down to the next epicenters shown in the table. Find and click
the locations of the other five epicenters listed in the table.
3. When all the epicenters have been identified, the Video button and the Show Plate
Boundaries button will be activated.
4. Click the Video button and watch the earthquake video.
5. Click the Show Plate Boundaries button and determine whether any of the earthquake
epicenters you plotted are associated with the plate boundaries.
6. Record your data in the Table.
7. Click the Volcanoes button to see the locations of six volcanoes on the map.
8. Match each volcano's latitude/ longitude measurements with a volcano spot on the
map.
9. When all the locations of the volcanoes are identified, the Video button and the Show
Plate Boundaries button will be activated.
10. Click the Video button and watch the volcano video.
11. Click the Show Plate Boundaries button and determine whether any of the volcanoes
you plotted are associated with the plate boundaries.
12. Record your data in the Table.
13. Click the Reset button to compare the data for a different set of earthquake epicenters
and volcanoes.
14. Complete the Journal question
Questions:
Question 1 :Is there a relationship between the locations of earthquake epicenters,
volcanoes, and plate boundaries? If so, describe the relationship.
All occur on plate boundaries.

Question 2 :According to the theory of continental drift, all of the world's continents were
once connected as one large landmass and have, over the course of hundreds of millions
of years, drifted apart into the positions they occupy today. Do the results of this activity
support the theory of continental drift? If so, how? Explain your answer.
The results of this activity do support the theory of continental drift because some of the
volcanoes are not located on plate boundaries. However, they would be if the plate
boundaries were drawn according to the year the eruption happened.

Question 3 :Why is it easier to predict where an earthquake epicenter will occur than it is
to predict when it will occur? Explain
Scientists can estimate the locations of an earthquake epicenter because they all occur on
plate boundaries.

Question 4 :The Richter scale describes how much energy an earthquake releases. With
every increase of 1.0 on the scale, 32 times more energy is released. How many times
more energy would be released by a quake measuring 2.0 more units on the Richter
scale?
It would be 1024x greater.

Question 5 :Why do you think the area around the Pacific Plate is called the Pacific Ring
of Fire?
It is called the Ring of Fire because there is a circle of volcanoes and earthquakes.

Question 6 :The Hawaiian Islands have formed as the Pacific Plate moves northwestward
over a hot spot of Earth's interior that provides magma to form several volcanoes. Explain
What could happen if the Pacific Plate continues to move.
The volcanoes on the Hawaiian Islands would stop being active and new volcanoes
would from over the new hotspot.

Question 7 :How can volcano eruptions be predicted?

Scientists can predict volcano eruptions by understand the volcano's history and by
monitoring the volcano once installing proper instruments to detect changes in gas and
ground deformation.

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Table:

Name Location or Location or Nearest Other

and/or Epicentre Epicentre Lithosphere Information
Location Latitude Longitude Plate
Earthquake Papua New 2.9S 141.8E Pacific, 1500 Deaths
1 Guinea Indo-
Australian
Earthquake Flores 8.5S 121.9E Eurasian, 2500 Deaths
2 Region, Indo-
Indonesia Australian
Earthquake Mexico City, 18.2N 102.5W North 10000-
3 Mexico America, 30000
Pacific Deaths
Earthquake Kobe, Japan 34.6N 135E Eurasian, 5500 Deaths
4 Philippine
Earthquake San 37.45N 122.26W North 700 Deaths
5 Francisco, America,
USA Pacific
Earthquake Tonga 17S 175W Pacific, No Deaths
6 Islands Indo-
Australian
Volcano 1 Mt. 15.13N 120.35E Eurasian 250 Deaths
Pinatubo,
Philippines
Volcano 2 Ruapehu, 39.3S 175.6E Indo- Erupted 50x
New Australian since 1861
Zealand
Volcano 3 Hekla, 63.98N 19.70W North Ash cloud
Iceland American, reached a
Eurasian height of
11.5km in 10
mins
Volcano 4 Mt. Saint 46.2N 122.2 W Pacific, 400 Deaths
Helens, USA North
American
Volcano 5 Bezymianny, 55.98N 160.98E Eurasian Ash cloud
Kamchatka 9km high
250km wide
Volcano 6 Fernandia, 0.4S 92W Nazca Killed many
Galapagos water
Islands animals