Global Distribution of Tectonic Hazards
Earthquake distribution
- The majority of earthquakes (about 95%) occur close to or at a plate boundary
- Many occur around the 'Ring of Fire' surrounding the Pacific Ocean
- The most powerful earthquakes are usually associated with convergent or conservative plate boundaries
- Intra-plate earthquakes are those which do not happen at plate boundaries - these are often linked to hot spots or old fault lines
Global earthquake distribution
Volcano distribution
- Like earthquakes, most active volcanoes occur at or near to plate boundaries
- Many (about 75%) occur around the 'Ring of Fire' surrounding the Pacific Ocean
- Volcanoes occur at convergent and divergent plate boundaries
- They can also be found at hot spots in the middle of plates like Hawaii in the central Pacific
Global distribution of active volcanoes
Tsunami distribution
- Over 70% of tsunamis occur around the Pacific Ocean
- 15% Mediterranean Sea, 9% Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, and 6% Indian Ocean
- They are caused by tectonic activity
- Most occur due to activity at convergent boundaries
Global tsunami distribution 1900-2020