Week of October 30 - November 12, 2006
Earth Events
Earth's surface is constantly in motion, as tectonic plates slide over, under, and past each other atop the planet's partially molten mantle. Earthquakes are vibrations that occur when segments of Earth's crust are suddenly dislocated, usually along fault lines at the boundaries where plates meet. A volcano is a vent or fissure in Earth's surface through which molten lava, ash, and gases are ejected; volcanic tremors indicate the movement of magma through a volcano.
Explore the latest earthquake and volcano events from around the world in the interactive to the left. Notice how they relate to the three major types of tectonic boundaries. Of the dozen or so earthquakes of magnitude 5.0 or more that occur each week, the tectonic setting is given for the largest three. Details for the three volcano events are chosen from the many active volcanoes reported on by scientific volcano-monitoring groups around the world.
Data Sources:
- USGS Earthquakes Hazards Center
http://wwwneic.cr.usgs.gov
- Global Volcanism Program
http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/usgs/index.cfm
- Southwest Volcano Research Centre
http://www.swvrc.org/alerts.htm