Question

Each year, the southern California area has about 10,000 earthquakes. Which of the following best describes why earthquakes are a common occurrence in California?

a) The two plates form a transform boundary because earthquakes are caused by plates sliding past each other.
b) The two plates form a subductive boundary because earthquakes are caused by plates sliding past each other.
c) The two plates form a transform boundary because earthquakes are caused by the Pacific plate subducting under the North American plate.
d) The two plates form a subductive boundary because earthquakes are caused by the Pacific plate subducting under the North American plate.

Answer 1

Earthquakes in California are common due to the San Andreas Fault, a transform boundary where the Pacific Plate slides past the North American Plate, causing a buildup of stress and resulting in earthquakes.

Step-by-step explanation:

Earthquakes are a common occurrence in California primarily due to the San Andreas Fault, which is a transform boundary between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate. At this boundary, the two tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally. The Pacific Plate is moving northward, while the North American plate moves in the opposite direction. This sliding motion causes a buildup of stress, which is eventually released in the form of earthquakes. Consequently, the correct answer to why earthquakes are common in California is: a) The two plates form a transform boundary because earthquakes are caused by plates sliding past each other.

Los Angeles is located on the Pacific Plate, which is moving northward along the San Andreas Fault. Major slippages along this fault can produce extremely destructive earthquakes, as the motion along fault zones is not smooth and the creeping motion of the plates against each other builds up stresses in the earth's crust.