Tectonic Activity is all about tectonic plates. The earth is made up of 4 layers.

These layers are the:

inner core
outer core
mantel and the crust.
The crust is the layer on the top that we live on. The crust Is
made up of 52 individual (14 major and 38 minor) plates. There
are 2 types of plate: continental and oceanic plate. Under the
crust id the mantel. The mantel is made of molten rock. The
molten rock moves and along with it so does the plates. The
plates move very slowly but different movements sometimes
have striking effects. Although these things seem catastrophic
now they can sometimes prove helpful in the future. For
instance when a large volcano (one of the things that tectonic activity can create ) in Italy called
mount Vesuvius erupted over the Roman city of Pompeii it decimated the ancient town. Now
Pompeii is a major tourist attraction bringing in income and jobs for many of the local towns.
Pompeii also gives us an amazing incite into Roman life having perfectly preserved the city.

A volcano is created at both constructive and destructive boundaries (the boundaries differ due to
the movement of the tectonic plates at a tensional, constructive or divergent boundary the plates
move apart. at a compressional, destructive or convergent boundary the plates move towards each
other. At a conservative or transform boundary the plates slide past each other.). At constructive
boundaries you are more likely to find a shield volcano. They are more round and are quite low to
the ground. They are formed by eruptions of thin runny lava. These volcanoes erupt regularly but
they are usually quite gentle.
Composite volcanoes are made from layers of ash and lava. They are usually found at destructive
boundaries. There eruptions tend to be of pyroclastic flow, this is a mix of steam ash and rock which
roles down the side of a volcano at high speeds and temperatures. Volcanoes form when magma
rises through cracks or weaknesses in the Earth's crust. Pressure builds and magma explodes to the
surface causing a volcanic eruption. The lava from the eruption cools to form new crust. After
several eruptions, the rock builds up to form a volcano.
The other main creation of tectonic activity is the earthquake. An earthquake is formed when the
plates move. The plates don't move smoothly and sometimes they get stuck and pressure builds up
in the mantel. The pressure can become so big that it explodes creating an earthquake. The point at
with the pressure is released is called the focus. The point on the crust above the focus is called the
epicentre. Earthquakes are measured by the Richter scale which is numbered 0-10. An Earthquake
measuring seven or eight is devastating. Earthquakes can sometimes start fires and

Fold mountains are usually created on a destructive boundary. At a destructive boundary 2 plates are
moving together (one of the plates is usually oceanic). When the plates move together, the layers of
sedimentary rock on the sea floor fold. Eventually the sedimentary rock rises above sea level as a
range of fold mountains. A great example of fold mountains are the Alps, they are geological young
just 30-40 million years old. Fold mountains are ideal for climbing, hiking and skiing and there
lakes are perfect for generating hydro electricity. Fold mountains also tend to have glaciated valleys
to.
Subduction occurs when one plate is forced underneath the other and the rock melts in the mantel.