GEOLOGY

EARTH SCIENCE

TECTONICS

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
Earthquakes can start where two plates slide back and forth past each other, such as at the San Andreas Fault. This area would be an example of
A
a divergent boundary
B
the result of volcanic eruptions
C
a subduction zone
D
a transform boundary
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -The San Andreas Fault in California is an example of a transform boundary, where the Pacific Plate moves northward past the North American Plate. It is one of the most active faults on the Ring of Fire.

Detailed explanation-2: -As the plates move past each other, they sometimes get caught and pressure builds up. When the plates finally give and slip due to the increased pressure, energy is released as seismic waves, causing the ground to shake. This is an earthquake. Some of the plates have ocean water above them.

Detailed explanation-3: -Transform boundaries typically produce large, shallow-focus earthquakes.

Detailed explanation-4: -The grinding action between the plates at a transform plate boundary results in shallow earthquakes, large lateral displacement of rock, and a broad zone of crustal deformation.

Detailed explanation-5: -The zone between two plates sliding horizontally past one another is called a transform-fault boundary, or simply a transform boundary.

There is 1 question to complete.