Question

California has more earthquakes because we live in between two major tectonic plates, the North American Plate and the pacific plate. These plates are moving and have created a fault known as the “San Andreas” Fault.

Find evidence that supports this claim. Then use reasoning and explain why the evidence supports the claim.

Answer 1



Step-by-step explanation:

There is a considerable amount of evidence supporting the claim that California has more earthquakes because it is located between two major tectonic plates, the North American Plate and the Pacific Plate. Some of the evidence includes:

Seismic Activity: California experiences more seismic activity than any other state in the United States. The state is home to several active faults, including the San Andreas Fault, which is the most well-known.

Plate Boundaries: The North American Plate and the Pacific Plate meet along the west coast of North America, creating a convergent boundary. This means that the plates are moving towards each other, causing the ground to shift and creating tension along the fault lines.

Historical Earthquakes: Throughout history, California has experienced numerous destructive earthquakes, including the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, which measured 7.8 on the Richter scale.

This evidence supports the claim because it shows that California is located in an area where there is a high level of tectonic activity. The convergence of the North American Plate and the Pacific Plate creates tension, which can lead to earthquakes along the active fault lines in the state. The historical earthquakes that have occurred in California demonstrate that this tectonic activity is ongoing and that the state is at risk for future earthquakes.