Final answer:
Earthquakes occur in distinct zones along tectonic plate boundaries, consistent with the framework of plate tectonics. They are not distributed randomly but are concentrated along divergent, convergent, and transform plate boundaries, as evident in resources provided by the US Geological Survey.
Step-by-step explanation:
The distribution of earthquakes around the globe tends to occur in distinct zones rather than randomly. This pattern is related to the theory of plate tectonics, which is the framework that explains the motion of large sections of the Earth's outer shell, known as tectonic plates. These boundaries are typically associated with earthquakes and volcanic activity.
Divergent plate boundaries, where tectonic plates drift apart, are typically found along mid-ocean ridges and produce shallow earthquakes. One example of a divergent boundary situated in a shallow sea between landmasses is the Red Sea. These mid-ocean ridges are often offset by transform faults due to the uneven spreading rates along the ridge and to accommodate the motion of the plates.
Convergent boundaries, where plates collide, are often associated with a range of earthquake depths and may form mountain belts or result in subduction, where one plate sinks beneath the other into the mantle. Transform boundaries, where plates slide horizontally past each other, typically have shallow earthquakes and no volcanoes.
The us geological survey provides information showing that earthquakes are not distributed randomly, but rather concentrate along these tectonic plate boundaries, indicating a clear pattern in the global distribution of earthquakes.