Where are Tsunamigenic Danger Zones Located?

Now that we know earthquakes and volcanoes are the biggest sources of tsunamis, let's find on a map of the world where these tsunamigenic danger zones are located.

Activity

Directions

1. Print out the world map below by clicking on it and printing the resulting window. This map has the three types of plate boundaries marked on it.
   

   Figure 2.4 - Based on a map prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey.

   Credit: Oregon State University

2. Remembering that water and vertical motion are the essential ingredients for tsunamis, find the convergent plate boundaries adjacent to oceans and you've found the most likely sources for tsunamigenic earthquakes. Mark these plate boundaries on your map.
3. Now, look at the world map below. It has plate boundaries (black lines) and active volcanoes (red dots) plotted on it. On your map that you have printed out, mark the locations of active volcanoes near oceans.
   

   Figure 2.5 - World plate boundaries and active volcanoes.

   Credit: Vulcan
   I hope you observe that these potentially tsunamigenic locations we have just found are NOT randomly distributed across the globe. In fact, the potential earthquakes and volcanoes are likely to occur near each other. This is not a coincidence. At convergent margins, one plate is forced to subduct below the other. This process is accompanied by both earthquakes and volcanism. The sticking and slipping as one plate dives into the mantle generates earthquakes. Partial melting of the lithosphere of the subducting plate and overriding plate produces a line of volcanoes inboard and roughly parallel to the subduction plate boundary.
4. Observe your map and think about the following:

• Which of the world's coastlines are most at risk for tsunamis? Does this shed light on where today's tsunami warning systems exist already?
• What tsunamigenic sources would affect the Atlantic coastlines? Where are they located?