Defining the exact boundaries of the Ring of Fire is not straightforward. However, it is increasingly recognized that the system exhibits an overall circular geometry, particularly when the volcanic regions of Antarctica are considered as part of the broader pattern. This observation deserves careful attention, and several key reference points can be used to define the geometry of the Ring of Fire.
San Andreas, Alpine Fault of New Zealnand and the Antarctican Plate.
The first and most widely recognized reference is the San Andreas Fault in California. Part of this fault aligns so closely with the inferred geometry that it undergoes continuous creep without generating significant earthquakes. For this reason, a representative point along the San Andreas Fault is selected as a reference point on the map.
On the opposite side of the Ring of Fire lies the Alpine Fault of New Zealand. Unlike the San Andreas Fault, the Alpine Fault is oriented approximately perpendicular to the adjacent margin of the Ring. This suggests that different tectonic adjustments occur along the line connecting these two major fault systems.
Additional features are found along the same axis. To the northeast lies the Yellowstone volcanic region, while to the southwest is the junction between the elliptical forms of the Pacific and Antarctic plates.
showing the inferred connection point linking Antarctica to the Ring of Fire system.
The geometry of the Ring of Fire can then be completed by extending the circle so that it passes through two equatorial reference points: the eastern coast of Indonesia and the western coast of South America.
The resulting elliptical form is nearly symmetric about the equator. However, its center lies slightly south of the geographic equator, consistent with the position of the so-called tectonic equator.
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