Where do most earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur on the earth?
May 28, 2010
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Earthquake Questions
Where on earth has the most earthquakes and volcanic eruptions?
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2 comments
kumorifox on May 28, 2010 at 5:33 pm
Around the Pacific Ocean, where the largest number of different tectonic plates border each other. It has the name of the Pacific Ring of Fire, because of the large numbers of earthquakes and high volcanic activity.
Kate on May 28, 2010 at 5:33 pm
The ring of fire or circum-pacific belt.
This is because of plate boundaries.
When plates move because of convection currents, they tend to collide or move apart from each other. At the ring of fire, there are plate boundaries between oceanic and continental plates. There are subduction zones, where continental lithosphere subducts under oceanic (which is more dense). Magma rises through the overlying crust, forming volcanoes. Also, rocks do not slide past each other like they are greased with butter. Rocks sometimes catch on each other. Then, the pressure and energy builds up. When the energy overcomes the friction, an earthquake occurs.
Hope this helps!