Question

Several recent earthquakes in Washington's Puget Sound region were caused by movement of the subducting _____ Plate.

a) Pacific
b) North American
c) Juan de Fuca
d) Antarctic

Answer 1

Answer: The correct answer is c) Juan de Fuca Plate.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Puget Sound region in Washington experiences frequent earthquakes due to its location near a subduction zone. In a subduction zone, one tectonic plate is forced beneath another. In this case, the subducting plate responsible for the earthquakes is the Juan de Fuca Plate.

The Juan de Fuca Plate is an oceanic plate that lies west of the North American Plate. It is named after the Juan de Fuca Strait, which separates Vancouver Island from the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. As the Juan de Fuca Plate subducts beneath the North American Plate, it generates seismic activity, resulting in earthquakes in the Puget Sound region.

It's important to note that the Pacific Plate is also present in the region, but it is not the subducting plate causing the earthquakes in this specific scenario. The North American Plate is the overriding plate, which encompasses most of the North American continent. The Antarctic Plate is not relevant to the Puget Sound region and does not interact with the Juan de Fuca Plate.

In summary, the movement of the subducting Juan de Fuca Plate is responsible for the recent earthquakes in Washington's Puget Sound region.

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

The earthquakes in Washington's Puget Sound region were caused by the movement of the subducting c. Juan de Fuca Plate. This tectonic activity is responsible for various geological features, including the Cascade Range.

Step-by-step explanation:

Several recent earthquakes in Washington's Puget Sound region were caused by movement of the subducting Juan de Fuca Plate. The correct answer to the question is option c) Juan de Fuca.

The West Coast tectonics involve several plate boundaries including the famous San Andreas Fault, which is a transform boundary between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate. To the north of the San Andreas Fault, the Juan de Fuca Plate subducts beneath the North American Plate, giving rise to the Cascade Rangethrough the process of subduction, which includes volcanoes such as Mt. St. Helens.

As the Juan de Fuca Plate subducts under the North American Plate, it is responsible for seismological activities in the region, including the formation of earthquakes in the Puget Sound.