Problem 1: When observing the earthquake data, note that the magnitude range is 5.5 to around 7.5. Also note the location of the earthquakes. Where do most earthquakes occur (in shallow or deeper parts of the crust)? Do you observe a correlation between magnitude and depth? Please explain.
Problem 2: What is the general spatial relationship between earthquake epicenters and volcano positions along the Pacific margin of Mexico and Central America? What sort of plate boundary does this relationship indicate? Please be descriptive.
Problem 3: Choose an area along the South American ocean to continent border and using the profile tool describe the elevation change by giving exact height in meters. After examining the Earthquake and Volcano data describe what kind of plate boundary this may indicate. Be descriptive with your evidence from the data.
Problem 4: Zoom in to the Gulf of California. Why are there a large number of earthquakes recorded in the Gulf of California? What kind of plate boundary does this indicate?
Problem 5: Now zoom into the area of Central America and the Caribbean. Note there is a chain of earthquake epicenters cutting across Guatemala and continuing eastward, south of Cuba. What sort of plate boundary might this indicate?
Problem 6: What happens to volcano and earthquake distributions as one moves southeast toward South America (Columbia). What is the major mountain range in this area and how do you think it was formed (still being formed).
Problem 7: Using free-hand drawing or a base map, try and sketch the plate boundaries as evident from the earthquake and volcano positions in this part of the world.
Problem 8: In your plate boundary identifications in (# 4) did you discover any Microplates (i.e., smaller plates of oceanic crust bounded on all sides by larger plate boundaries)? If so, where?