Lab M - Plate Tectonics, Volcanoes and Diastrophism

LAB M - PLATE TECTONICS, VOLCANOES AND DIASTROPHISM Introduction Many of Earth’s landforms are the result of tectonic activity, vulcanism and/or diastrophism (folding, faulting or warping). These forces work primarily to build up the landscape, though they can also be destructive in nature. By completing this lab the student will learn to appreciate these forces and the role they play in shaping the Earth. Materials needed: textbook, atlas, World Physical Map (attached) and Folsom, New Mexico Quadrangle map sheet section (attached). Part I. Plate Tectonics A. Using the World Physical Map and the tectonic maps in your textbook, locate and trace the following plate boundaries. Be precise in your drawings. 1. Boundary between the Nazca and South American plates. What type of plate boundary occurs here? What is happening, tectonically, along this boundary? Identify two specific landforms along and associated with this type of boundary. 2. Boundary that runs from Iceland (65ºN, 19ºW) to Bouvet (Bouvetoya), Antarctica (55ºS, 3ºE). What type of plate boundary occurs here? What is happening, tectonically, along this boundary? Identify two specific landforms along and associated with this type of boundary. M-1 3. Boundary between the Philippine and Pacific plates. What type of plate boundary occurs here? What is happening, tectonically, along this boundary? Identify two specific landforms along and associated with this type of boundary. B. When oceanic crust meets continental crust at/along a convergent boundary, which type of crust is subducted? Explain your answer. C. At the following locations, identify the plate that is being subducted. (Note: “neither” is an acceptable answer. In fact, if it is not a subduction zone, write "neither" and put down what type of plate boundary that you find at this location). 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Santiago, Chile ________________________________________ Grenada, N.A. _________________________________________ Reykjavik, Iceland______________________________________ Attu Island, Alaska______________________________________ Taipei, Taiwan_________________________________________ Lake Tanganyika, Africa_________________________________ Los Angeles, California__________________________________ Bali, Indonesia_________________________________________ D. Using the World Physical Map and the plate tectonics maps in your textbook, locate and identify six island arcs. Outline these island arcs on your World Physical Map. Record the names of the island arcs below. 1. ______________________________ 2. ______________________________ 3. ______________________________ 4. ______________________________ 5. ______________________________ 6. ______________________________ E. Along what type of boundaries do island arcs occur? M-2 F. Diagram how island arcs are formed. Show the subducting and overriding plates, the ocean trench and island arc. G. On the World Physical Map, draw a line connecting the Dead Sea, Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, Lake Ziway, Lake Rudolf, Lake Albert, Lake Edward, Lake Kivu, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Nyasa. (Use atlas to find these lakes). What is happening, tectonically, along this (boundary) line? H. What will the Red Sea look like in another 15,000,000 years? Assume the plates are moving at a rate of 2 cm per year. Express your answer in miles. I. On the World Physical Map, place a red dot on the following volcanoes: 1. Mt. Fuji, Japan 2. Mt. Pinatubo, Philippine Islands 3. Mt. Cook, New Zealand 4. Cerro Aconcagua, Argentina 5. Mt. Atitlan Volcano, Guatemala (14ºN, 91ºW) 6. Popocatepetl, Mexico (19ºN, 98ºW) 7. Lassen Peak, California (40ºN, 121ºW) 8. St. Helens, Washington (46ºN, 122ºW) 9. Mt. Logan, Canada 10. Klyuchevskaya Volcano, Russia (56ºN, 160ºE) J. What is the geographic significance of these locations? M-3 K. On the World Physical Map, place a yellow dot on the following volcanic islands: 1. Hawaii 2. Cape Verde Islands 3. Kerguélen Island 4. Cook Islands (also called Austral Cooks) 5. Reunion 6. St. Helena L. What is the geographic significance of these locations? M. What explains their formation at these locations? N. On the World Physical Map, locate the Himalayas. Along what type of plate boundary did these mountains form? Which plate is the subducting plate? Explain your answer. Part II. Vulcanism - see page M-6 for map section. Using the topographic map section of Mt. Capulin from the Folsom, New Mexico Quadrangle map sheet on page M-6, answer the following questions: A. What type of volcano is Mt. Capulin? Provide two pieces of evidence to support your answer. Hint: Look at the contour lines on the map and the map scale to help you. B. What is the line running up the flank of the volcano (arrows are pointing to it)? C. What do you think created the landforms/landscape features to the West/NW of Mt. Capulin? M-4 Part III. Diastrophism-Folding and Faulting Diagram a normal, reverse and strike slip fault. Use red arrows to indicate the direction of the force (compression or tension) applied in each example and blue arrows to indicate the appropriate vertical or horizontal displacement of the crustal blocks. A. Normal Fault B. Reverse Fault C. Strike Slip Fault M-5 Here is the section of the Folsom, NM map containing Mt. Capulin. Use this to answer the questions in Part II, letters A, B, and C. M-6