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The Tectonic Cycle Examine how the tectonic cycle helps to explain the global distribution of one of the following: • Volcanoes • Earthquakes • Fold Mountains. - Leaving Cert Geography - Question C - 2017
Question C
The Tectonic Cycle Examine how the tectonic cycle helps to explain the global distribution of one of the following: • Volcanoes • Earthquakes • Fold Mountains.
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The Tectonic Cycle Examine how the tectonic cycle helps to explain the global distribution of one of the following: • Volcanoes • Earthquakes • Fold Mountains. - Leaving Cert Geography - Question C - 2017
Step 1
Examine how the tectonic cycle helps to explain the global distribution of Volcanoes.
Answer
Volcanoes are closely associated with plate tectonics, particularly at divergent and convergent boundaries. At divergent boundaries, tectonic plates pull apart, leading to magma rising to the surface, causing volcanic activity. For instance, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge exemplifies this phenomenon where new oceanic crust is formed as magma escapes.
At convergent boundaries, where an oceanic plate subducts beneath a continental or another oceanic plate, intense pressure causes the melting of the subducted plate, which leads to magma formation. This process creates explosive volcanoes, such as those found in the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is a belt of volcanoes encircling the Pacific Ocean.
Overall, the tectonic cycle's explanation of the global distribution of volcanoes hinges on the understanding of plate boundaries and their movement, providing a clear connection.
Step 2
Examine how the tectonic cycle helps to explain the global distribution of Earthquakes.
Answer
Earthquakes primarily occur at the boundaries of tectonic plates due to the movement and interaction of these plates. The tectonic cycle reveals how stress builds along faults until the stress is released in the form of seismic waves, resulting in an earthquake. The most significant earthquake zones are located along transform boundaries where two plates slide past each other, such as the San Andreas Fault in California.
Additionally, earthquakes also occur in subduction zones, where one plate is forced under another, creating immense pressure that can lead to sudden releases of energy. The distribution of earthquakes globally can, therefore, be mapped to these tectonic activity zones, confirming the tectonic cycle's influence.
Step 3
Examine how the tectonic cycle helps to explain the global distribution of Fold Mountains.
Answer
Fold mountains are formed primarily at convergent boundaries where two continental plates collide. The immense pressure caused by this collision forces the crust upwards, creating mountain ranges. A classic example of this formation is the Himalayas, which were formed by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates.
The tectonic cycle elucidates that the age and characteristics of fold mountains can vary based on the specific tectonic activity over geologic time. As tectonic forces continue to act, these mountains may be subjected to erosion and other geological processes, affecting their shape and elevation.