Consider the following statements about ‘Ring of Fire’ : 1. It is also known as circum-Pacific belt of volcanoes 2. It is an active seismic zone 3. It is a zone of divergent plate margin Select the correct answer using the code given below :

The 'Ring of Fire' is also known as the circum-Pacific belt, characterized by the world's greatest concentration of active volcanoes [1]. It is a highly active seismic zone, accounting for approximately 68 to 70 percent of all global earthquakes [4]. Geologically, the Ring of Fire is primarily associated with convergent plate boundaries and subduction zones, where one tectonic plate is forced beneath another [3]. While some divergent boundaries like the East Pacific Rise exist within the Pacific, the defining characteristic of the Ring of Fire itself is subduction and convergence rather than being a 'zone of divergent plate margin' [4]. Therefore, statements 1 and 2 are correct, while statement 3 is incorrect as it misidentifies the primary plate tectonic setting of the belt.

Sources

1. [1] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 11: Volcanism > Pacific Ring of Fire > p. 155
2. [3] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 14: Earthquakes > 14.4. Distribution of Earthquakes > p. 181
3. [4] Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 3: Volcanism and Earthquakes > THE DISTRIBUTION OF EARTHQUAKES > p. 34
4. [2] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 8: Natural Hazards and Disaster Management > Distribution of Volcanoes in the World > p. 12