There are three types of plate boundaries, each of which dictate the type of geologic events that occur in an area. Convergent plate boundaries, for instance, occur when two lithospheric plates move toward each other and one of the two plates slides beneath the other. This type of plate boundary is often referred to as a subduction zone because the lithosphere is being subducted into the mantle beneath it (Tarbuck & Lutgens, 2014). Convergent plate boundaries can form from the collision of both oceanic and continental plates, each of which can cause different geologic events to a region. For example, oceanic-continental convergences can cause continental volcanic arcs produced by molten rock and magma. This type of convergent boundary typically
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Typically, this kind of fault occurs on the ocean floor. Transform boundaries do not produce any form of volcanic activity, but are generally marked by recurring shallow earthquake activity. One great example of a transform boundary is the San Andreas Fault Zone, which runs from the Gulf of California up through California (Lachenbruch & Sass, 1980). The third type of plate boundary is divergent, and occurs when two plates move away from each other. Similar to a convergent boundary, there can be either oceanic or continental divergent boundaries. It is typical for oceanic divergent boundaries to be marked by a submarine mountain range and the creation of new sea floor. Geologic events that are characteristic in this type of boundary include volcanic activity in the form of fissure eruptions and shallow earthquake activity (2014). In cases of continental divergent boundaries, rift valleys are very common in addition to faults and shallow earthquake …show more content…
For example, the islands of Japan are a great example of a convergent plate boundary, which was formed by two oceanic plates (the Pacific Plate and the Philippine Sea Plate) subducting (Scholz & Kato, 1978). Because Japan is in this zone, people who live in this region have been subject to various natural disasters. In cases where earthquakes occur off the coast, Japan can be subject to tsunamis. In addition, volcanic activity can cause further destruction to local communities. Some of the worst natural disasters in human history have occurred in Japan. For example, in 2011 an earthquake occurred of the coast of Tōhoku, which was a magnitude of 9.0 on the rector scale and also caused a tsunami (Fujii, Satake, Sakai, Shinohara, & Kanazawa, 2011). This event caused the death of nearly 16,000 people and injured countless others. This earthquake was the most powerful to ever hit Japan, and was considered the fourth most powerful earthquake in the world (2011). Countless other devastating events have disrupted life in Japan and will continue to do so as a result of its location. If I were an emergency management official in this region, there are a few precautions that I would take to assure citizens were informed and prepared for potential disasters. First and foremost, the investment in sound
Typically, this kind of fault occurs on the ocean floor. Transform boundaries do not produce any form of volcanic activity, but are generally marked by recurring shallow earthquake activity. One great example of a transform boundary is the San Andreas Fault Zone, which runs from the Gulf of California up through California (Lachenbruch & Sass, 1980). The third type of plate boundary is divergent, and occurs when two plates move away from each other. Similar to a convergent boundary, there can be either oceanic or continental divergent boundaries. It is typical for oceanic divergent boundaries to be marked by a submarine mountain range and the creation of new sea floor. Geologic events that are characteristic in this type of boundary include volcanic activity in the form of fissure eruptions and shallow earthquake activity (2014). In cases of continental divergent boundaries, rift valleys are very common in addition to faults and shallow earthquake …show more content…
For example, the islands of Japan are a great example of a convergent plate boundary, which was formed by two oceanic plates (the Pacific Plate and the Philippine Sea Plate) subducting (Scholz & Kato, 1978). Because Japan is in this zone, people who live in this region have been subject to various natural disasters. In cases where earthquakes occur off the coast, Japan can be subject to tsunamis. In addition, volcanic activity can cause further destruction to local communities. Some of the worst natural disasters in human history have occurred in Japan. For example, in 2011 an earthquake occurred of the coast of Tōhoku, which was a magnitude of 9.0 on the rector scale and also caused a tsunami (Fujii, Satake, Sakai, Shinohara, & Kanazawa, 2011). This event caused the death of nearly 16,000 people and injured countless others. This earthquake was the most powerful to ever hit Japan, and was considered the fourth most powerful earthquake in the world (2011). Countless other devastating events have disrupted life in Japan and will continue to do so as a result of its location. If I were an emergency management official in this region, there are a few precautions that I would take to assure citizens were informed and prepared for potential disasters. First and foremost, the investment in sound