Final answer:
The earthquake belts in the western Pacific Ocean are associated with subduction zones, transform faults, mid-ocean ridges, and oceanic hot spots options (a.b,c,d) each with distinct characteristics and related seismic and volcanic activities.
Step-by-step explanation:
With regard to earthquake belts in the western Pacific Ocean, different geologic features are associated with distinct types of plate boundaries. Subduction zones are areas where one tectonic plate is being forced below another plate into the mantle, which is commonly associated with a range of earthquake depths from shallow to deep volcanic activity.
The infamous Ring of Fire is a prominent example of a subduction zone that encircles the Pacific Ocean and is known for its intense seismic and volcanic activity.
Transform faults occur where tectonic plates slide horizontally past each other, such as along the San Andreas Fault, which is a boundary between the Pacific and North American plates. Earthquakes here are typically shallow and no volcanism is associated with these boundaries due to the lateral motion of the plates.
Mid-ocean ridges are locations where tectonic plates are moving apart, and new crust is formed as magma rises to fill the gap. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is one example, where shallow earthquakes and some volcanic activity occur due to the upwelling of basaltic magma forming new oceanic crust.
Lastly, oceanic hot spots are caused by plumes of hot material that rise from deep within the Earth's mantle and form volcanic islands as the tectonic plate moves over them. Unlike the features associated with plate boundaries, hot spots can occur away from plate edges and are typically marked by a chain of volcanic islands, such as the Hawaiian Islands.