Why might an earthquake east of the Rocky Mountains produce damage over a larger area than an earthquake of similar magnitude in California?

Why might an earthquake east of the Rocky Mountains produce damage over a larger area than an earthquake of similar magnitude in California?

Why might an earthquake east of the Rocky Mountains produce damage over a larger area than an earthquake of similar magnitude in California? The underlying bedrock in the central and eastern United States is older and more rigid, and, therefore, seismic waves can travel farther.

Which type’s of plate boundary is are associated with Earth’s largest earthquakes?

At convergent plate boundaries, where two continental plates collide earthquakes are deep and also very powerful. In general, the deepest and the most powerful earthquakes occur at plate collision (or subduction) zones at convergent plate boundaries.

Why is the West Coast more prone to earthquakes?

Earthquakes happen more often along the west coast of the United States because the west coast is situated on the boundary of some major tectonic plates. Tectonic plates are HUGE moving rock masses that make up the Earth’s crust. Earthquakes are caused by these plates moving and grinding against each other.

Why are earthquakes felt more on the East Coast?

There is a geological explanation. The Earth’s crust beneath the Eastern U.S. is “older and colder” than out West. The fault lines are more healed. As a result, the East is far less seismically active — but when earthquakes do hit, that hard ground is far more effective and conducting the seismic waves.

What boundary causes the most earthquakes?

convergent boundaries
About 80% of earthquakes occur where plates are pushed together, called convergent boundaries. Another form of convergent boundary is a collision where two continental plates meet head-on.

Why are most volcanoes and earthquakes found in the Pacific Ocean?

Here’s the main reason: the Pacific seafloor is moving out from a spreading ridge. When it reaches the eastern or western coastlines of the Pacific Ocean they are subducted beneath the respective Asian or American continents. When the descending oceanic plates reach a certain depth, the leading edge of the plates begin melting.

Is the Pacific Ring of fire prone to earthquakes?

The Pacific Ring of Fire is aptly named. It’s a string of volcanoes in the Pacific Ocean, and the region is prone to earthquakes. In fact, most earthquakes strike within the ring. Here’s five facts.

Why do so many earthquakes originate in this region?

Why do so many earthquakes originate in this region? The belt exists along boundaries of tectonic plates, where plates of mostly oceanic crust are sinking (or subducting) beneath another plate. Earthquakes in these subduction zones are caused by slip between plates and rupture within plates.

Which is the largest earthquake belt in the world?

The world’s greatest earthquake belt, the circum-Pacific seismic belt, is found along the rim of the Pacific Ocean, where about 81 percent of our planet’s largest earthquakes occur. It has earned the nickname “Ring of Fire” .