Earthquakes and Plates. Plate boundaries are defined by the occurrence of earthq

Question

Earthquakes and Plates. Plate boundaries are defined by the occurrence of earthquakes. You can determine the type of plate boundary based on the distribution of earthquake depths of foci. Look over the following Google Earth images, based on the distribution of the earthquakes, determine the type of plate boundary. We will be looking at 4 regions of the world: 3. Ocean-continent subduction plate boundary Ocean-ocean subduction plate boundary Divergent plate boundary Transform plate boundary Range of D Location Type of Plate Boundary Earthquake Foci Ocean-ocean subduction plate South America Tonga trench Mid-Atlantic ridge boundary Ocean-continent subduction plate boundary Divergent plate boundary Transform plate boundary California The earthquake depths are color-coded to help you determine the depth. Look at the figure in your textbook on page 165 which is showing a cross section of the crust and earthquake depths. You may also use Google Earth for this assignment to view the earthquake depths on your own. You will be using the Dynamic Earth file. English (US) T

Explanation / Answer

1. Earthquakes range from shallow focus to deep focus and can occur upto depths of 700km in Ocean-ocean subduction plate boundary.

2. Earthquakes range from shallow focus to deep focus and can occur upto depths of 700km in Ocean-continent subduction plate boundary.

In subduction zones, the earthquakes can occur due to release to volatile H2O from serpentinite in subducting oceanic crust and phase change of olivine to spinel structure.

3. In Mid Atlantic ridge, the crust is about 0-5 km thick. Very Shallow focus and weak earthquakes of upto the upper 2 km depth of newly formed oceanic crust occur in Mid Atlantic Ridge due to normal faulting.

4. California occurs over the San-Andreas Transform fault. Shallow focus earthquakes upto 20 km depth occur in the Transform fault boundaries.

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