Final answer:
Human-induced earthquakes can happen in various regions in the U.S., but the Midwest has notably experienced increased seismic activity likely linked to wastewater injection from oil and gas operations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Human-induced earthquakes, also known as induced seismic events or anthropogenic earthquakes, occur in various regions around the United States due to activities such as fracking, mining, reservoir-induced seismicity from water storage behind large dams, and the injection or withdrawal of fluids from the earth. These activities alter the stress on the Earth's crust and can lead to earthquakes.
California is particularly well-known for both natural and human-induced earthquakes. The state is situated along the San Andreas Fault, a major fault line that is a boundary between tectonic plates. Activities related to oil exploration and extraction, as well as the injection of wastewater into deep wells, have been associated with induced seismic events in California.
The Midwest has also experienced induced seismicity, notably in regions around Oklahoma and Kansas. This increase in earthquake activity has been strongly linked to the injection of wastewater from oil and gas operations into deep underground wells.
In the context of the provided information, the most likely answer to the student's question regarding which region has likely experienced earthquakes with magnitudes between 3 and 5 due to human activity would be C) Midwest. This region has observed a significant increase in induced earthquakes due to waste fluid injection related to oil and gas production.