This week 2 we are exploring plate tectonics and how important it is to know the location of the plate boundaries, and how it is closely related to some natural hazards, like volcanoes or earthquakes.
In the US, the NOAA map below shows how the Easter part of the States 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 within the Pacific plate (hot
spot) or the New Madrid area (ancient rift) within the North American Plate, 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!
