What do Plate Tectonics have to do with volcanoes?
A volcano is an opening in the Earth's crust that allows molten rock to flow out onto the surface as lava.
Volcanoes are associated with four different types of tectonic structures:
CONVERGENT PLATE BOUNDARIES- A tectonic boundary where two plates are moving toward each other.
DIVERGENT PLATE BOUNDARIES- Where two plates are moving away from each other and a new crust is forming.
HOT SPOTS- A place where hot molten lava from deep within the Earth rises up through the crust and reaches the surface. It remain's constant as the plate continues to move over it. The result is that a trail of volcanoes is left.
TRANSFORM PLATE BOUNDARIES-Where the two plates slide against each other in a sideways motion.
Most volcanoes are located near, or on plate boundaries between shifting plates( Watson,1997). This is because volcanoes are caused by plate tectonic movements.
Volcanoes are associated with four different types of tectonic structures:
CONVERGENT PLATE BOUNDARIES- A tectonic boundary where two plates are moving toward each other.
DIVERGENT PLATE BOUNDARIES- Where two plates are moving away from each other and a new crust is forming.
HOT SPOTS- A place where hot molten lava from deep within the Earth rises up through the crust and reaches the surface. It remain's constant as the plate continues to move over it. The result is that a trail of volcanoes is left.
TRANSFORM PLATE BOUNDARIES-Where the two plates slide against each other in a sideways motion.
Most volcanoes are located near, or on plate boundaries between shifting plates( Watson,1997). This is because volcanoes are caused by plate tectonic movements.
Read this article to find out more information: Plate Tectonics Moving and Shaking
The lithosphere of our Earth is divided into 7 main plates and many other smaller slabs of rock. Australia is almost right in the middle of the Indo-Australian plate.
Active, dormant and extinct volcanoes in Australia
There has not been an volcanic eruption in 4000 years on the Australian continent. The most recent volcanic activity was the eruption of Mt Gambier volcano in South Australia, 2900 BC. Check out this PDF for more information about Mt Gambier!
mt_gambier_document.pdf | |
File Size: | 414 kb |
File Type: |
Although there are no active volcanoes on the Australian mainland, there are many that extinct or dormant. Most of these volcanoes are extinct from thousands of years ago.
A list of volcanoes in Australia can be found at this website-Volcanoes of Australia- John Seach.
A list of volcanoes in Australia can be found at this website-Volcanoes of Australia- John Seach.