- Around the Pacific is a large scale geological feature called the “Ring of Fire”. The name comes from the number of volcanic systems ~450# around this perimeter (~75% of the Earth’s volcanoes).
- Many volcanic systems are associated with tectonic plate boundaries.
- Convergent boundaries have subduction zones where one plate is sinking beneath another plate. The sinking plate crust is exposed to higher pressures and temperatures resulting in melting and upward movement of magma in conduits.
- Divergent boundaries have ridges formed by the two plates moving apart, causing magma to rise from the mantle and creating new crust
- In both types of boundaries, these magma formations and upward movements can result in volcanic systems with surface manifestations of volcanoes such as convergent boundary stratovolcanoes (composite volcanoes).
- Geothermal plays can be found associated with these volcanic systems.
