google earth exercise 2

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Southern New Hampshire University *

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105

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Geology

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Apr 3, 2024

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Christina Weaver PHY-105 Geology Module 2 Google Earth Exercise 3. A) What is the general relationship between earthquake epicenters and volcano positions along the Pacific coast of Mexico and Central America? What sort of plate boundary does this relationship indicate? The relationship between earthquake epicenters and volcano positions is that locations that have volcanoes will have earthquake epicenters. This is because when a volcano erupts and causes volcanic activity, it will produce a volcanic earthquake. The earthquake epicenter and volcano positions along the Pacific coast of Mexico and Central America are located on multiple shifting plate boundaries. The Pacific coast of Mexico and Central America is in a subduction zone because the oceanic tectonic plate, the Caribbean, the Cocos, and the Nazca plate are split (subducting) under the North American continental plate. Since all of these plates are meeting and moving towards each other they are creating a convergent boundary. B) Why are there a large number of earthquakes recorded in the Gulf of California? Based on the depth of the earthquakes, what kind of plate boundary does this indicate? The reason there are so many earthquakes in the Gulf of California is because of the San Andreas Fault, which goes through and along the coast of California. The San Andreas Fault is a sliding boundary between the Pacific and North American Plate. Because of the constant pressure from

these two plates sticking, hitting, and breaking off one another is the reason why they cause so many earthquakes in the area. I believe the Gulf of California is a transform plate boundary but with some pieces of divergent activity making a zig-zag boundary because the North American plate and the Pacific Plate are sliding past each creating transform faults like the San Andreas Fault. C) Why is there a chain of earthquake epicenters cutting across Guatemala and continuing eastward south of Cuba? What type of plate boundary might this indicate? There is a string of earthquake epicenters cutting across Guatemala and towards Cuba due to the Polochic and Motagua fault. This forms the boundary between the North American Plate and the Caribbean Plate. There are multiple plate boundaries in this region, the subduction boundary in the West and the transform plate boundary in the North American plate. 4. A) What happens to volcano and earthquake distributions as you move east in Central America from Costa Rica into Panama? As I moved East from Costa Rica into Panama I noticed fewer volcanoes and earthquakes in Panama than in Costa Rica. 5. A) Based on your observations of bathymetry and the information provided about the ages of the volcanoes, which direction is the Nazca plate moving?

You can use the compass in the upper right hand of your screen, which will have an N signifying the direction of North, to help you. I believe the Nazca Plate is moving east towards the South American Plate. B) What types of volcanoes are most common in this region? What does that tell you about the magma type? The most common volcanoes in this region are shield volcanoes. Shield volcanoes have basaltic magma which means they are more runny and not acidic. They have gradual sloped sides and are more shield shaped. 6. A) Based on the earthquake activity, what type of plate boundary do you think is located in between the Galapagos and Panama? What evidence do you have for this? I believe the plate boundary between the Galapagos and Panama is a divergent plate boundary. I believe this because of the Cocos and Nazca plate boundaries that are moving away from each other. 7. A) What type of volcano is most common in this region? Stratovolcanoes seem to be the most common type of volcano in Costa Rica. Stratovolcanoes are cone-shaped and are formed by viscous lava that does not flow smoothly. Due to the thickness of the lava, it builds up around the opening of the volcano creating steep sides.

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B) Looking at the earthquake distribution does this type of volcano make sense for this area? Think about the plate boundary that may be present in this region and briefly defend your answer. I believe that stratovolcanoes in this area do make sense because they are located on a subduction zone at convergent plate boundaries. Also, its location on the ring of fire is a cause for stratovolcanoes. C) Based on the plate boundary and type of volcanoes, what types of future volcanic hazards may occur in this region? The hazards from future volcanic activity would be from lava flows, lahars, landslides, toxic gases, and ash. All of these hazards can cause serious harm and damage. D) Specifically, find San Jose, Costa Rica, and read about the volcanoes that surround the city. Zoom in and out and examine the landscape between the volcanoes and San Jose. Which volcano do you think poses the biggest risk to the capital city? What types of volcanic hazards might they face? I'd like to say that the Irazu volcano poses the largest risk to the city of San Jose, Costa Rica. It is located just East of the capitol and covers an area of 500km2. I believe it would cause many hazards and damage from potential death to destruction of the economy from pyroclastic flows, lahars, ash, and more.

Works Cited “Information and Resources about the San Andreas Fault.” Www.sanandreasfault.org , www.sanandreasfault.org/Information.html. National Park Service. “Shield Volcanoes (U.S. National Park Service).” Www.nps.gov , 17 Apr. 2023, www.nps.gov/articles/000/shield-volcanoes.htm. NOAA Ocean Exploration. “What Are the Different Types of Plate Tectonic Boundaries?: Exploration Facts: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research.” Oceanexplorer.noaa.gov , oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/facts/plate- boundaries.html#:~:text=There%20are%20three%20kinds%20of. “Types of Volcano.” British Geological Survey , www.bgs.ac.uk/discovering-geology/earth-hazards/volcanoes/how-volcanoes-form/ #:~:text=Stratovolcanoes%20have%20relatively%20steep%20sides. visceral_dev_admin. “The Geologic Setting of the Gulf of California • MBARI.” MBARI , 30 Jan. 2002, www.mbari.org/news/the-geologic-setting-of-the-gulf-of-california/.

google earth exercise 2

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