Is there a relationship when tectonic hazards are mapped? 

What is an earthquake? 

 An earthquake is a sudden and violent shaking of the ground caused by tectonic plates. 

 What is a volcano? 

 A volcano is a mountainous vent or fissure in the Earth's crust which emits lave and other igneous products.  

Is there a relationship between where volcanoes and earthquakes are distributed?

The line where two plates meet is a plate boundary.

Earthquakes

• Well-defined distribution pattern, occurring in long, narrow belts.

• Encircle the whole of the Pacific Ocean.

• Extend down the entire length of the mid-Atlantic Ocean.

Volcanoes

• Volcanoes occur in long, narrow belts.

• The ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’ encircles the Pacific Ocean (home to over 450 volcanoes – 75% of all volcanoes around the world).

• Extends down the entire length of the mid-Atlantic Ocean.

• Smaller areas in Southern Europe and the Caribbean

Earthquakes and volcanoes follow a similar pattern to the plate boundaries because most earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur at plate boundaries.

Some earthquakes and volcanoes are located away from plate boundaries. These are ‘hot spots’ where the Earth’s crust is very thin, e.g. the islands of Hawaii.