Final answer:
The New Madrid Fault line has a greater potential to be more devastating than the San Andreas Fault line due to liquefiable soils, a greater fault length, and less frequent major earthquakes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The New Madrid Fault line has a greater potential to be more devastating than the San Andreas Fault line due to the presence of liquefiable soils. Liquefiable soils are prone to liquefaction during an earthquake, which can lead to the collapse of buildings and infrastructure. This increases the overall damage and potential for loss of life.
Additionally, the New Madrid Fault line spans a greater length than the San Andreas Fault line, which means that a larger area is at risk of experiencing the effects of a major earthquake.
While both fault lines have the potential for significant seismic activity, the New Madrid Fault line is less frequent in terms of major earthquakes compared to the San Andreas Fault line. However, when earthquakes do occur along the New Madrid Fault line, the impact can be more widespread and devastating due to the factors mentioned above.