Ring of Fire

The recent earthquakes and tsunami threats in Chile is part of the larger seismic activity, complete with volcanoes, that is the Ring of Fire. The Ring of Fire surrounds the edges of the Pacific Ocean on both sides of the International Date Line. It encompasses 452 volcanoes and covers 40,000 kilometers. This hotbed for earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanoes is formed by converging tectonic plates in the Pacific Ocean.

One type of these boundaries is a subduction zone. These subduction zones form when a heavier tectonic plate slides underneath a lighter tectonic plate. The heavier plate consequently melts back into the mantle of the Earth which causes the high volcanic activity in subduction zones. Mount St. Helens is one example of a subduction zone. Krakatoa is another volcano in the Ring of Fire that results from a subduction zone.

A divergent boundary (no, not the movie or book series!) is formed when plates move away from each other. When divergent boundaries occur in the oceans, they reveal hot magma. The colder water cools this magma, creating new crust for the earth. The East Pacific Rise is perhaps the best example of a divergent boundary.

A transform boundary occurs when two tectonic plates slide against each other. This type of boundary is the most common cause of earthquakes, like the ones in Chile, in the Ring of Fire.