Question

If the San Andreas Fault moves 200 cm (2 meters) per big earthquake, and plate movement is xx cm/yr (see question above), how many years of plate motions must accumulate to produce one big earthquake? This is the recurrence interval for earthquakes of this size.
a. 4 years
b. 20 years
c. 80 years
d. 200 years

Answer 1

Answer:

Option C

80 years

Explanation:

From Scientific records, the rate of movement of the plate is 0.025 meters

Since the fault moves at the rate of 2 meters per year, to obtain the number of years it will takes to produce an earth quake, we will have to divide the rate of movement of the fault by the rate of movement of the plate.

Number of years for earthquake = $\frac{2}{0.025}$= 80 years.

Hence, it will take 80 years to produce one big earthquake.