A volcanic hot spot is a region deep within the Earth’s mantle from which heat rises through the

process
of convection¹. This heat facilitates the melting of rock at the base of the lithosphere, where the brittle,
upper portion of the mantle meets the Earth’s crust¹. The melted rock, known as magma, often pushes
through cracks in the crust to form volcanoes¹.

Hot spot volcanism is unique because it does not occur at the boundaries of Earth’s tectonic plates,
where all other volcanism occurs¹. Instead, it occurs at abnormally hot centers known as mantle plumes¹.
As the plume head reaches the lithosphere, it spreads into a mushroom shape that reaches roughly 500
to 1000 kilometers (310 to 621 miles) in diameter¹. These features are called diapirs¹.

A volcano above a hot spot does not erupt forever. Attached to the tectonic plate below, the volcano
moves and is eventually cut off from the hot spot¹. Without any source of heat, the volcano becomes
extinct and cools¹. This cooling causes the rock of the volcano and the tectonic plate to become more
dense¹. Over time, the dense rock sinks and erodes¹. A new and active volcano develops over the hot
spot, creating a continuous cycle of volcanism¹.

Most scientists think that 40 to 50 hot spots exist around the world¹. Major hot spots include the Iceland
hot spot, under the island of Iceland in the North Atlantic; the Réunion hot spot, under the island of
Réunion in the Indian Ocean; and the Afar hot spot, located under northeastern Ethiopia¹.

Earthquakes and volcanoes are primarily located along the boundaries of Earth's tectonic plates¹². These
plates are huge slabs of Earth's crust and upper mantle, which fit together like pieces of a puzzle². They
are not fixed, but are constantly moving at a very slow rate².

**Earthquakes** are located mostly in long, narrow belts, along all types of plate boundaries¹³. They are
caused by the movement of tectonic plates¹.

**Volcanoes**, on the other hand, only occur at constructive and destructive plate margins¹. A lot of
volcanic activity occurs in the 'ring of fire', a group of volcanoes that are located along the plate margin
of the Pacific plate¹. Hawaii is an arc of volcanic islands, found above a hot spot¹.

These zones of activity often coincide, as shown on various global distribution maps¹³. For instance, the
Pacific Ring of Fire – a chain of earthquake and volcanic activity around the edge of the Pacific Ocean –
generates 75% of the world’s volcanoes and 80% of the world’s earthquakes⁴.

About 350 million people (or about one out of every 20 people in the world) live within the “danger
range” of an active volcano². Therefore, volcanologists closely monitor volcanoes so they can better
predict impending eruptions and prepare nearby populations for potential volcanic hazards that could
endanger their safety².

An earthquake, also known as a quake, tremor, or temblor, is the shaking of the Earth's surface caused by
a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves⁵. Earthquakes can range
in intensity, from those so weak they cannot be felt, to those violent enough to propel objects and
people into the air, damage critical infrastructure, and wreak destruction across entire cities⁵.

The initial point of rupture is called the hypocenter or focus, while the ground level directly above it is
the epicenter⁵. Earthquakes are primarily caused by geological faults, but also by volcanic activity,
landslides, and other seismic events⁵.

The frequency, type, and size of earthquakes in an area define its seismic activity, reflecting the average
rate of seismic energy release⁵. Significant historical earthquakes include the 1556 Shaanxi earthquake in
China, with over 830,000 fatalities, and the 1960 Valdivia earthquake in Chile, the largest ever recorded
at 9.5 magnitude⁵.

Earthquakes result in various effects, such as ground shaking and soil liquefaction, leading to significant
damage and loss of life⁵. When the epicenter of a large earthquake is located offshore, the seabed may
be displaced sufficiently to cause a tsunami⁵. Earthquakes can also trigger landslides⁵.

Efforts to manage earthquake risks involve prediction, forecasting, and preparedness, including seismic
retrofitting and earthquake engineering to design structures that withstand shaking⁵.

For the latest earthquakes around the world, you can check out the [USGS Earthquake Map](^4^). It
provides the most recent earthquakes with magnitude, location, and time information⁴.