This week 2 we are again exploring plate tectonics and how knowing the location of a and how close or not is respect to plate boundaries relates directly with their natural hazards, like volcanoes or earthquakes.
In the US, the NOAA map below 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 [note that a lot of these happen underwater...], but if you know your Tectonics, you definitely know where the do!
On a side note,
