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Tectonic Hotspots

WorldPhysical Environment

Locations of tectonic hotspots—areas in the mantle where heat rises as a thermal plume from deep in the Earth.

Smithsonian Institution

A world map shows tectonic hotspots around the globe, marked with red dots. High concentrations of hotspots are found along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the Pacific Ring of Fire. Areas with fewer hotspots include Europe, Asia, and Australia.

In North America, prominent hotspots are concentrated along the western United States, including the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, extending into Alaska. Additional hotspots are found in the Gulf of California, and in Central America, especially in Mexico and Guatemala. The Atlantic Ocean features multiple hotspots, notably near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Africa's hotspots are primarily situated along the East African Rift, particularly in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania, with others scattered across the continent, including Nigeria and Algeria. The Indian Ocean hosts several hotspots, especially near Madagascar and the Seychelles. In Europe, hotspots are visible in Iceland, France, and Spain. Asia's tectonic activity is concentrated in Vietnam and Cambodia. The western part of the Arabian Peninsula, particularly Saudi Arabia, also shows considerable tectonic activity. The regions of Mongolia and Japan show numerous tectonic hotspots. The map also shows hotspots in the South Pacific Ocean, near New Zealand and various island nations.

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Tectonic Hotspots

Water Resources Vulnerability

Tectonic Hotspots

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Arid and low water use

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Low-medium (10-20%)

Medium-high (20-40%)

High (40-80%)

Extremely high (>80%)

Alaska
10.132%87.9%0.193%0.154%1.32%
Arizona
13.34%9.37%6.97%0.448%4.52%
Utah
120.8%13.7%0.313%0.420%49.5%
Yukon
10.923%99.0%
Northwest Territories
0.342%3.62%
District of Columbia
100%
Florida
10.4%12.0%0.279%0.266%0.590%
Idaho
10.772%13.8%28.4%8.83%44.9%
New Hampshire
17.2%33.7%40.5%8.46%
Rhode Island
0.183%86.5%6.09%
Vermont
7.27%88.3%4.41%
Washington
72.6%3.37%5.42%0.287%6.53%
Wyoming
121.7%0.541%70.3%
Nunavut
0.979%18.2%
Montana
28.7%2.60%14.6%5.24%35.2%
Maine
94.9%2.65%0.228%0.817%
North Dakota
7.38%3.22%4.45%0.249%9.67%36.7%
Kentucky
76.6%17.7%5.68%
Nova Scotia
0.182%80.1%
Virginia
11.9%0.775%16.4%1.64%
Delaware
0.105%37.7%61.1%
Prince Edward Island
98.5%
Saskatchewan
4.25%59.9%2.62%2.54%2.67%0.868%
Mississippi
74.5%1.57%23.9%
West Virginia
63.6%17.6%14.6%
Nebraska
0.605%3.54%22.3%73.5%
Texas
4.07%3.41%2.84%1.94%22.5%2.71%
Missouri
45.5%14.9%0.131%5.37%
Louisiana
54.5%20.6%5.75%
Hawaii
17.82%
North Carolina
0.116%12.2%54.7%3.14%0.982%
Oregon
114.3%48.2%11.8%4.82%0.772%0.847%
New Brunswick
99.5%
Alabama
92.6%5.45%0.987%
New Mexico
130.3%0.128%7.32%21.7%
Kansas
0.176%1.82%13.8%68.4%
Wisconsin
5.67%25.0%40.8%9.68%
British Columbia
192.0%1.55%0.285%
Newfoundland and Labrador
74.5%
New Jersey
0.162%3.07%94.0%1.76%
South Carolina
0.748%24.6%36.2%
Michigan
56.0%3.00%4.63%9.70%
Alberta
3.52%56.8%0.267%4.01%3.67%11.4%
Connecticut
0.460%29.6%24.9%23.8%1.35%
Pennsylvania
1.42%27.8%49.9%3.96%
Colorado
10.795%9.40%85.2%
Nevada
8.21%0.731%1.40%0.413%2.80%24.0%
Massachusetts
0.206%0.166%33.6%8.30%30.7%
Georgia
8.71%47.0%37.9%
New York
25.4%5.89%56.3%5.19%0.401%
Maryland
0.151%4.45%64.3%1.05%8.49%
Québec
99.1%0.240%
Manitoba
0.656%83.1%11.7%2.04%1.39%
Oklahoma
11.4%5.60%4.28%17.9%30.0%
Tennessee
90.1%5.50%
Ontario
97.2%1.67%1.13%
California
0.688%12.5%0.232%17.8%2.26%1.00%
Arkansas
12.6%46.8%33.2%6.01%
South Dakota
32.7%3.47%37.3%22.0%
Ohio
3.42%0.721%29.0%
Indiana
0.434%1.19%8.61%4.78%
Minnesota
21.0%3.81%13.1%23.4%22.0%
Iowa
26.6%12.5%44.0%16.3%0.628%
Illinois
30.9%0.187%44.1%9.75%
0.18.0