Question

Which describes the boundary where earthquake activity occurs along rift valleys?

Answer 1

Answer:

divergent boundary on land

Explanation:

Divergent boundary involves the crustal spreading of two tectonic plates. Divergent boundary is the separation or rifting apart of two plates. Divergent boundary can occur between oceanic plates or continental plates.

Divergent boundary between oceanic plates , the convection currents lift the lithosphere producing a mid oceanic ridge. Extensional forces spreads the lithospheric plate apart causing an in flow of magma from the interior of the earth. The magmatic materials travels through fissure and oceanic ridges to the surface of the ocean floor. The volcanic material/magma later solidifies to form new oceanic crust with the youngest rock closest to the mid oceanic ridge.

Divergent boundary between continental plates , the convection current usually pull the continental plates upward due to the thickness of the continental plates. The continental plates are pulled thin by the extensional forces resulting to fracture. The fracture result into a rift shaped structure. Rift valleys are formed which is a lowland region. The two parts of the continents(lands) that are separated are likely to develop fault on both sides of the rifts. The fractured area along the rift valley is a region prone to earthquakes.

Rift valley are structures found in divergent boundary between continents(land) and are region of earthquakes activities because of movements and fracturing occurrence. The East African rift is an example of this kind of plates boundary.