Volcanoes and Plate Boundaries

Earth Science - Middle School

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Tectonic Plate Boundaries Most of the Earth's volcanoes are located at tectonic plate boundaries. These volcanoes are found on both continental and oceanic crust. Volcanoes at Divergent Boundaries Mid-ocean ridges form from lava pouring onto the ocean floor at divergent plate boundaries. mid-ocean ridge magma ocean oor old crust old crust new crust new crust erupting magma (lava) rift valley Divergent boundary volcano chain On land, divergent boundaries produce chains of active volcanoes. Volcanoes at Convergent Boundaries At convergent boundaries, oceanic plates are subducted and magma forms from melting crust. Eruptions create volcanic island arcs in the ocean and volcanic mountain ranges on land. trench volcano continental plate oceanic plate mantle magma Subduction zone Convergent boundary Hot Spot Volcanoes Some volcanoes form over hot spots that are not located along plate boundaries. A hot spot occurs when rising magma is close to the Earth's surface. The islands of Hawaii were formed over a hot spot in the Pacific Ocean. Eurasian Plate North American Plate Eurasian Plate Arabian Plate African Plate South American Plate Pacific Plate Indian Plate Australian Plate Antarctic Plate Nazca Plate Cocos Plate Pacific Ocean volcanic islands volcanic arc on land Volcanoes & Plat e Boundaries © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. 94-4533 Visit www.newpathlearning.com for Online Learning Resources. Photos courtesy of USGS & NASA. Eurasian Plate North American Plate Eurasian Plate Arabian Plate African Plate South American Plate Pacific Plate Indian Plate Australian Plate Antarctic Plate Nazca Plate Cocos Plate Pacific Ocean plate boundary
Pause and Review Create a concept map of the different types of plate boundaries and the kinds of volcanoes associated with them. Volcanoes & Plat e Boundaries © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. 94-4533 Visit www.newpathlearning.com for Online Learning Resources.