Discuss the geophysical characteristics of the Circum-Pacific zone (CSE MAINS 2020)

Approach:

Introduction: Mention about Ring of Fire as a zone of:

• String of Volcanoes (around 452)
• Seismic activity
• 90% of all earthquakes of the world
• 75% of all active volcanoes

Body: Geophysical characteristics:

• Horseshoe shaped ( around 40000kms) on the edges of Pacific ocean from the
• southern tip of South America along the west coast of North America, Bering Strait to
• Japan, southern New Zealand.
• Result of activities of Plate Tectonics.
• Subduction Zones and convergent plate boundary: Add a small diagram showing
• subduction of oceanic plate under continental plate.
• O-C collision: Denser oceanic plate subduct under lighter continental plate.
• Mantle Dynamics: Melting of plate produces magma which rises up to the surface as a volcano.