Tectonic processes associated with earthquakes

Question 1

how are earthquakes caused?

Answer 1

sudden movements in the earths crust-result in violent shaking of the ground. seismic waves travel from the focus, plates closest to the epicentre experience most powerful shocks

Question 2

distribution of earthquakes

Answer 2

• found on tectonic plate boundaries
• greatest concentration on pacific plate
• more found on convergent boundaries
• Antarctic plate has little earthquakes

Question 3

divergent boundaries

Answer 3

TENSION-stretches the crust and causes normal faulting and rifting producing shallow earthquakes

Question 4

convergent boundaries

Answer 4

COMPRESSION-bends rocks until they fracture and move suddenly along fault lines, releases energy as seismic waves. give rise to thrust faults. produces high magnitude earthquakes

Question 5

conservative boundaries

Answer 5

SHEER FORCE-due to horizontal/shearing movement (lateral faults). produces violent earthquakes