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Global Earthquake Activity While the ground under your feet may seem solid, the Earth is constantly active. Scientists have proven that the surface of the Earth is actually floating over an area of molten rock called the upper mantle. We aren't having earthquakes that measure 9 every day, but there are thousands of earthquakes across the planet every month. Most earthquake activity (as you can see in the image) is located around the rim of the Pacific Ocean. There are also many earthquakes across the rest of the planet, usually found near the borders of tectonic plates or major fault zones. As you look at the world map, pay attention to the patterns of earthquakes across the west coast of North America and the east coast of Asia. This is the famous "Ring of Fire". Not only are there earthquakes along this ring, but there has also been a great deal of volcanic activity. The two are connected because you will often have a great deal of seismic activity near volcanoes and volcanoes are found near the boundaries of tectonic plates. Those boundaries are areas of instability that allow magma to reach the surface of the Earth. This live image displays the data recorded by thousands of seismic detectors placed across the planet. You may view the page sponsored by the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program at http://earthquake.usgs.gov/recenteqsww/. The data is gathered from USGS stations and many international agencies that monitor earthquake activity. Link: Recent Earthquakes across globe (USGS) |
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Go for site help or a list of earth science topics at the site map!©copyright 1997-2007 Andrew Rader Studios, All rights reserved. Current Page: Geography4Kids.com | Physical Geography | Earth Monitors | Global Earthquakes |
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