Plate Tectonics Paper 1 Tectonic Activity caused by movement at plate boundaries within the earths crust sudden release

ase of pressure Fig. 14.6 (pg 247) 246/27 Earthquakes Occur in long, narrow belts. They encircle the whole of the Pacific Ocean, extend down the entire length of the mid-Atlantic Ocean and stretch across Southern Europe and Asia. Volcanoes 2 Main types: Composite cone and Shield volcano. Also occur on long narrow belts E.g Pacific Ring of Fire (encircles the Pacific Ocean). Volcanoes also extend down the entire length of the mid-Atlantic Ocean and can be found in smaller areas of Sthn Europe, the Carribean and East Africa. See Fig 14.1 (Earthquake Activity) Fig. 14.2 (Volcanic Activity) Fig. 14.4 (Plate boundaries and zones of activity) Pg 248/49 Types of Plate Movement Constructive Margin; plates move away from each other Destructive Margin; Oceanic crust moves toward continental crust Collision Margins; Two plates of continental crust move towards each other. Rocks are forced upwards to create fold mountain ranges E.g. Himalayas Conservative Margins; Two plates slide past each other as crust is neither being formed nor destroyed at this type of boundary, new landforms are not created and there is no volcanic activity. However, earthquakes do occur if the plates stick. This is the situation in California where the San Andreas fault marks the boundary between the Pacific and North American plates. Tectonic Activity Case Studies. Volcanoes: Mt St Helens, (USA) 1980; Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat (Carribean) 1995 Earthquakes: Kobe, Japan 1995 & Gujarat, India 2001. When did they happen? Why did they happen? What happened what impact did they have? Deaths? Injury? Damage to buildings? What was done to repair the area after the incident? What is being done to try and prepare for future disasters? Despite all the dangers, what do people chose to live near to volcanoes? Think about the Compania region of Italy..Hot springs bring a thriving tourist industry. The fine ash provides fertile soil which is excellent for farming and the large amount of countryside provides an attractive area to live in.

Fold Mountains (formed at plate boundaries!) Formed by the movement of plates towards each other after a geosyncline has been filled in with sediment brought by rivers. The sediment turns into sedimentary rock when compressed this rock is folded and faulted into fold mountains as the crustal plates move towards each other. Human Activity on Fold Mountains. E.g. the Alps Tourism Production of Hydro-electric Power Industry Farming Think about all the advantages and problems these would cause.