This week we are exploring plate tectonics and how the
location of each country respect to the plate boundaries relates directly with their natural hazards -like volcanoes or earthquakes-
In the past days the center of Italy has suffered devastating shakes -news here-. The devastation comes from the poor construction standards on the houses close to the epicenter, not because it was an inactive area..
nobody that knows where the plates are located was surprised by the event.
In the US, the NOAA
map
shows clearly how the Easter US is a passive margin and the Western side of the
country is a very active one, with the Pacific Plate, Cocos, Juan de Fuca
plates connecting to the North American plate. Not a surprise we are on the
‘Ring of Fire’, where a lot of the volcanic and seismic activity happens!
Of
course, there are a few exceptions, like the activity of Hawaii (hot spot) or
the New Madrid area (ancient rift), both not at plate boundaries, but that will be another post another time.
We might not know when events like volcanic eruptions or
big earthquakes will happen, but if you know your Tectonics, you definitely
know where the do!
All for now-
Other Plate Maps found at USGS or
Esri: interactive
