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 months the center of Italy has suffered devastating shakes, the last one a few days ago -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-
