Geology

Global Distribution of Earthquakes

1. Along tectonic plate boundaries

Most earthquakes occur where tectonic plates meet. These boundaries are visible on a world map as long, narrow zones of seismic activity.

Convergent boundaries (plates collide)

→ Strong and deep earthquakes

→ Examples: Andes, Himalayas, Japan

Divergent boundaries (plates move apart)

→ Shallow earthquakes

→ Example: Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Transform boundaries (plates slide past each other)

→ Shallow but sometimes destructive earthquakes

→ Example: San Andreas Fault (California)

2. The Pacific “Ring of Fire”

The most active earthquake zone on Earth

Encircles the Pacific Ocean

Includes the west coasts of North & South America, Japan, Indonesia, New Zealand

Accounts for ~75% of the world’s earthquakes

3. Mid-ocean ridges

Underwater mountain chains where plates separate

Frequent, shallow earthquakes

Mostly not felt by people

4. Collision zones

Where continents collide

Produce large earthquakes

Example: India–Eurasia collision forming the Himalayas

5. Intraplate earthquakes (rare)

Occur away from plate boundaries

Caused by ancient faults or stress within plates

Examples: New Madrid Seismic Zone (USA), parts of Australia

What a world map shows

If you plot earthquakes on a world map:

They appear in narrow belts

These belts outline tectonic plate edges

Large blank areas exist in stable continental interiors

Summary

Not random distribution

Concentrated along plate boundaries

Highest activity around the Pacific Ring of Fire

Few earthquakes occur in plate interiors

If you want, I can also:

Explain this with a diagram

Compare shallow vs deep earthquake locations

Relate earthquake patterns to volcano distribution

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