Question

1. Along the coast of South America, some of the largest earthquakes ever recorded happen. Many of these quakes are greater than 9.0 on the moment magnitude scale. Why do you think they experience these large quakes?
2. Where in the ocean, is the new oceanic crust being created?
3. How is the new oceanic crust created? Write down at least 3 events that occur while the oceanic crust is being created.


4. As new crust is forming in these areas, where does it move, and how quickly does it move?

5. If a new crust is continually being created, then the crust must be destroyed at some location for the Earth to remain its current size. Where is this crust destroyed and how is it destroyed?


6. Name 3 geologic features that are a direct result of plate tectonics.

7. Go outside your location and find something that you can use as evidence of plate tectonics. Write down what you see and how you think plate tectonics was involved in the creation. If you are in a flat prairie and can see nothing but vegetation around, look at a photo of a location to answer this question.

Answer 1

Answer:

1. Complex fault interaction, 2. Atlantic ocean, 3. divergent plate boundaries and mid oceanic ridges, 4. Rate of movment is 1 cm per year due to rapid spreading of lavas. 5. Upwelling of magma, 6. faults, folds and volcanism.

Explanation:

• The location of South America influences the development of earthquakes. Having s narrow continental shelf the plates of pacific and south America collide with each other.  

• The mid oceanic ridge marks the new oceanic crust that is continuously being created as plate expand and the lithosphere becomes cooler.  

• The presence of the divergent plate boundaries leads to their creation. The rate of movment of the plate is about 1 cm per year.