How are volcanoes distributed

Volcanic activity is widespread over the earth, but tends to be concentrated in specific locations. Volcanoes are most likely to occur along the margins of tectonic plates, especially in subduction zones where oceanic plates dive under continental plates. As the oceanic plate subducts beneath the surface, intense heat and pressure melts the rock. Molten rock material, magma, can then ooze its way toward the surface where it accumulates at the surface to create a volcano. Volcanic activity can be found along the Mid-ocean ridge system as well. Here, oceanic plates are diverging and magma spreads across the ocean floor, ultimately being exposed at the surface. Crustal spreading long the ridge is partly responsible for the volcanic activity of Iceland. It is also thought that a "hot spot" lies beneath the island that contributes to volcanism.

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