The Ring of Fire

Abstract

The Ring of Fire surrounding the Pacific Ocean has been a centre of attention by a large number of geologists, scientists and other experts. As the name implies it is a source of devastating volcanic eruptions and earthquakes in the world. The aim of this paper is to research the famous and historic ring of fire surrounding the Pacific Ocean. The paper initially describes what the pacific ring of fire is. It then subsequently discusses the brief history and account of the ring of fire. The paper then cascade light on the reasons behind the formation of the ring of fire. In the end, the paper discusses and comments on the future predictions about the ring of fire and the effects of the expected seismic events.

The Ring of Fire

Introduction

Ring of Fire also known as the “Pacific Ring of Fire” and “Circum Pacific Belt” is the circle of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes surrounding the Pacific Ocean (Freeman, pp.24-25). The ring of fire is of the shape of a long horseshoe. It is a seismically dynamic belt consisting of volcanoes, tectonic plate boundaries and earthquake epicenters that edges the Pacific basin. The seismic belt is being associated as the source of volcanic eruptions throughout its length of around 40000 kilometers (Edwards, pp.25-27). This is because it is referred to as the Ring of Fire. Most of the world's largest and most severe volcanoes and earthquakes in the world have occurred in the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Discussion

History of the Ring of Fire

The history of the ring of fire of Pacific Ocean is traced back to Mesozoic. A range of major volcanic eruptions have taken place in the ring of fire which can be date back to 1800. This includes the major event so f Mount Tambora, Mount Ruiz, Mount Saint Helens, Mount Pinatubo and Karakotoa. As accounted from the history, the setting for a number of largest and most severe earthquakes have is the same ring of fire of the pacific. This includes the earth quakes of Chile, Alaska, Japan and even the most devastating tsunami of Indian Ocean in the year 2004.

Formation and Origin of the Ring of Fire

As pointed out in the discussion above “ring of fire” is referred to as the circle of volcanoes and earthquakes which surrounds the Pacific Ocean. It was before the development of the theory of plate tectonics, the world knew that volcanoes and earthquakes occur in these bands surrounding the pacific ocean; however, no one discerned the reasons for its formation and occurrences (Rae, pp.29). It was after the development of Plate Tectonics that the formation of the pacific ring of fire was recognized (Edwards, pp.25-27).

The formation and origin of the ring of fire of the Pacific Ocean can be comprehended by understanding the collision of plates. Plates which are formed of continental material for instance the plates of North America are comparably lighter than the plates of the oceans for instance the floor of the Pacific Ocean (Edwards, ...