Volcanoes & Plate Tectonics
What do the red triangles represent on the map?
Volcanoes
What is NOT a volcanic hazard?
Tornadoes
What is the purpose of a seismograph?
Measures and records ground motion during earthquakes
Why do earthquakes often happen near plate boundaries?
Plates push, pull, or slide, creating stress → earthquakes (Transform)
Which ocean has the highest concentration of volcanoes along its edges?
Pacific Ocean (Ring of Fire)
What severe weather is most common in California?
Examples: droughts, wildfires
Name three ways scientists monitor earthquakes
Seismographs
3D Maps
GPS ground movement monitoring
How do plate movements cause earthquakes?
Stress builds → rocks break → energy released as seismic waves
Why do volcanoes often occur near plate boundaries?
Plates interact at boundaries, causing magma to form and rise to the surface
Volcanoes commonly form at convergent and divergent plate boundaries.
What conditions are needed for a hurricane to form?
Warm ocean water and cold wind
Why does California experience so many earthquakes?
Sits on the San Andreas Fault
Why are earthquakes common along the Pacific Ring of Fire?
Subduction zones and plate interactions create earthquakes and volcanoes
What is a hot spot?
A hot spot is a place where hot mantle rises and forms volcanoes away from plate boundaries. (In the middle of the ocean) Think Hawaii!
What scale measures hurricane intensity?
Saffir-Simpson Scale — measures hurricane wind speed and damage potential (1-5)
Explain why earthquake preparedness is important in California.
Because large populations live near active faults and earthquakes can happen suddenly
Compare hazards of earthquakes vs volcanoes.
Earthquakes: shaking damage; Volcanoes: lava, ash, gases
Why are the Hawaiian Islands evidence of a hot spot?
The Hawaiian Islands formed as the Pacific Plate moved over a stationary hot spot. (The islands are in the middle of the ocean)
What atmospheric conditions lead to tornado formation?
Warm moist air near ground + cool dry air above + wind shear → rotating thunderstorms
Explain relationship between plate boundaries and earthquake distribution using map evidence.
Earthquakes cluster along plate boundaries
(Transform) (example: Pacific Ring of Fire has ~90% of world earthquakes)
Analyze why people still live in high-risk earthquake zones
Jobs, culture, cost of moving, fertile land, coast access