(Stnd 22) Study Guide-Tectonics and Natl Disasters

Name:

Multiple Response
Identify one or more choices that best complete the statement or answer the question.

Over a three-month period, seismic activity was detected in the Pacific ocean at the following five coordinates.

Event 01: Box 2R	Event 04: 5Q
Event 02: Box 3Q	Event 05: 6P
Event 03: Box 4P	Event 06: 6Q

Plotting Instructions
Latitude is represented by the horizontal numbered lines (see numbers on the left.
Longitude is represented by the vertical lettered lines (see letters at the top).
First determine the latitude. Then determine the longitude.
Example: Tennessee is located the Box 4E

Multi-Select Question
Map these six coordinates, and select an explanation that best describes what they represent in relation to tectonic process. (Select 3 of 5 choices)

a.	Don’t Select
b.	They represent the epicenters of six earthquakes.
c.	They represent locations where new crust is being formed.
d.	They represent the boundary between tectonic plates.
e.	They represent a portion of the Ring of Fire.

Tectonic plates are large pieces of the Earth’s crust that are constantly in motion. The edges where the plates meet are called plate boundaries.

Multi-Select Question
Using the map above, where would you expect to have a higher propensity for earthquake and volcanic activity? (Select 3 of 5 choices)

a.	At the African plate and South American Plate boundary.
b.	At the Eurasian Plate and Pacific Plate boundary.
c.	Don’t Select
d.	At the Indo-Australian and Pacific Plate boundary.
e.	At the Nazca Plate boundary and the South American Plate Boundary.

Examine the map shown below. Each triangle represents the location of an active volcano at or near a tectonic plate boundary

Multi-Select Question
Use your knowledge of tectonic plate movements and plate boundary interactions to determine the coordinates of three volcanoes located along a divergent boundary.
(Select 3 of 5 choices)

Multi-Select Question
In areas surrounding the Ring of Fire at the edges of the Pacific plate, earthquakes and volcanoes are common geologic events that human populations must deal with. How have scientists, engineers, and governments taken precautions to help limit the negative effects on infrastructure and human life? (Select 3 of 5 choices)

a.	International organization such as the United Nations have called for banning deep sea drilling which is commonly believed to be the main cause of oceanic earthquakes.
b.	Don’t Select
c.	Engineers are developing building structures that are resistant to the shaking of the ground during an earthquake.
d.	Governments have developed and implemented early warning systems for natural disasters such as volcanoes and earthquakes.
e.	Scientists have strategically placed monitoring equipments such as seismographs and GPS units near areas with high concentrations of earthquakes or volcanic activity.

Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

In 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake caused a devastating tsunami to strike the coastline of Japan. The tsunami wave was estimated to be 33 feet high and traveled at 500 miles per hour through the Pacific Ocean. The impact from this huge wave flooded and severely damaged the Fukushima Daiich Nuclear Power Plant which released harmful radiation on Japanese citizens.

Two-Part Question

Part One:	Examine the diagram above to determine the cause and effect relationship between an earthquake and a tsunami.
Part Two	Select a design solution for the future that could reduce damage to Japan’s remaining nuclear power plants.

a.	Part One: When plates spread apart from each other at divergent boundaries, water is forced into motion. If this wall of moving water approaches an island like Japan, it forms a massive tsunami also known as tidal wave. Part Two: Japanese politicians should ban the construction of any new nuclear power plants to avoid this kind of problem in the future.
b.	Part One: When plates slide past one another at transform boundaries, earthquakes often occur. The seismic waves (S-Waves) from these earthquakes forms tsunamis. Part Two: The United Nations should lead the effort to increase the elevation of the Japanese islands to avoid any future damage to their nuclear power plants.
c.	Part One: When large slabs of rock are displaced on the ocean floor, a massive amount of water is forced into motion. This motion can become a tsunami when the moving water reaches a shoreline. Part Two: Tall and strong concrete sea walls should higher than any recorded tsunami should be constructed around any Japanese nuclear power plant near the coast.

Surtsey is a volcanic island that first appeared above the surface of the Atlantic Ocean off the southern coast of Iceland in 1963. The island appeared where no land had been previously located and has been intently studied by geologists

What phenomena would explain how Surtsey was formed along a divergent boundary?

a.	Surtsey was formed in a similar fashion to the Hawaiian islands. As the tectonic plate moved, a hotspot was created at a weak spot in the crust which allowed magma to flow through to the ocean floor. Eventually this built up rock layers to form this island.
b.	Surtsey was created as a result of plate interactions along the Ring of Fire in the Pacific ocean. Due to ongoing tectonic processes along this geologically active arc, many volcanic islands have been formed in this area over time.
c.	As the Mid-Atlantic Ridge spread apart, magma flowed upward to the ocean floor. and solidified. Over time, layer after layer of new rock was built up high enough to the point where the island appeared about sea level.

Seismographic stations at numerous locations around the globe routinely detect seismic activity in and around the Pacific basin. This arc of earthquakes and volcanoes is called the Ring of Fire.

What cause and effect relationship connects the Ring of Fire, the Pacific Plate, and geologic activity in the area?

a.	Cause: The Pacific plate boundary is the largest subduction zone on Earth.. Effect: Since the Pacific plate is moving under other plates at several locations, geologic and volcanic activity has decreased significantly.
b.	Cause: The Pacific plate is moving South toward Antarctica. Effect: This southern movement is forming divergent zones at various plate boundaries leading to earthquakes and volcanoes.
c.	Cause: The entire Pacific Plate is moving in a north-west direction. Effect: The Pacific Plate is impacting other plates along the Ring of Fire leading to hotspots, earthquakes, and volcanoes.

Examine the two tables shown below.
---Table-A shows the number of earthquakes worldwide above a magnitude 2.5 between 1973 and 1998.

---Table-B shows where these earthquakes occurred during this same time period.

Table-A

Table-B

As part of a team of seismologists, you are asked to construct an explanation linking the data is these two table and to present you conclusions at a USGS conference.
Which one of the following explanations should you use?

a.	As the number of magnitude 2.5 and higher earthquakes increased, the number of locations decreased each year because all seismic activity in the Earth ceased in 1998.
b.	The locations of these earthquakes demonstrated that seismic activity mainly occurs far from fault line or plate boundaries
c.	Magnitude 2.5 and higher earthquakes mainly occur along recognizable lines that represent tectonic plate boundaries.

The Ring of Fire is an area of ongoing and frequent tectonic and volcanic activity along the edges of the Pacific plate. More than 75% of the world’s volcanoes can be found along this 40,000km stretch.

Determine the primary cause and effect connection which explains why the Ring of Fire has such a high frequency of geological activity.

a.	*Cause:* The Ring of Fire’s crust is very thin and allows molten rock to flow upwards. *Effect:* This high volume release of magma causes earthquake and volcanic activity.
b.	*Cause:* This activity is mainly caused by tectonic processes at transform boundaries. *Effect:* Transform boundaries often have subduction zones which form volcanoes
c.	*Cause:* The movement of the Pacific plate causes it to crash into other plates. *Effect:* Friction and heat at plate boundaries causes earthquake and volcanic activity.

10.

If you compare a map of Earth’s plate boundaries with a map of the locations of earthquakes and volcanoes over the last 15 years, you will observe that there is a clear correlation.

Tectonic Plate Boundaries: Three Types

Select the explanation that best explains why most earthquakes and volcanoes occur at or near plate boundaries.

a.	As tectonic plates move away from each other, weak spots are created in the Earth’s crust. The weak spots allow for the movement of magma through the lithosphere.
b.	Earthquakes only occur at transform boundaries as the tectonic plates slide by each other. Volcanoes are only found at convergent plate boundaries in the Ring of Fire.
c.	At plate boundaries earthquakes occur due to friction and released tension. These locations also have increased heat and pressure which forms volcanoes.