Question

The Ring of Fire is a 25,000 mile arc formed by the interaction of tectonic plates in the Pacific Ocean. This region is known for its frequent earthquake activity and volcanic eruptions. The image below shows how a volcano would be formed in South America along the Ring of Fire.



What type of plate movement is occurring at this plate boundary?
Responses

Answer 1

The type of plate movement occurring at the Ring of Fire, particularly in the context of South America, is primarily **subduction**. This occurs when an oceanic plate is forced under a continental plate. In the case of South America, the Nazca Plate is subducting beneath the South American Plate, leading to volcanic activity and frequent earthquakes in the region. This subduction process is responsible for the formation of the Andes mountain range and numerous volcanoes along the western coast of South America.