Ring of Fire

Location

• A long chain of volcanoes and active structures that surround the Pacific ocean
• chain runs up along the western coast of South and North America, crosses over the Aleutian Islands in Alaska, runs down the eastern coast of Asia past New Zealand and into the northern coast of Antarctica.
• More than 450 active and dormant volcanoes

Geologic History/Formation

• referred to a geographical area of high volcanic and seismic activity around the Pacific Ocean
• volcanoes- created through the tectonic process of subduction
• dense oceanic plates collided with and slide under lighter continental plates.
• tectonic boundaries are active because they are mostly subduction zones

Catastrophism or Uniformitism?

• Ring of fire is catastrophic
• Volcanic eruptions are sudden and violent
• catastrophic events

Constructive or Destructive?

• Ring of fire is constructive and destructive
• volcanic eruptions cause damage but also build up land
• it is home to millions of people who are working to improve their living due to a natural disasters

Interesting inFormation

• Deep ocean trenches are a common feature
• Majority of earthquakes occur in the ring of fire
• Despite the high levels of volcanic and seismic activity, millions of people live among the landscapes of the Ring of Fire
• volcanoes that dot the Ring of Fire include Mount St. Helens in the USA, Mount Fuji in Japan and Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines