The statement which correctly explains the effect of tectonic plate activity on the west coast of the United States of America is that: Earthquakes occur at the San Andreas Fault when stored energy is released from locked plates.
A tectonic plate is also known as lithospheric plate and it can be defined as an enormous, solid, irregularly shaped rock slab, that is made up of two (2) main plates:
- Oceanic plates
- Continental plates
According to the theory of plate tectonics, the arrangement of continents, oceans, volcanic activity, earthquakes, and the formation of landforms such as mountains, are caused by the movement of tectonic plates over millions of years.
In this context, the effect of tectonic plate activity on the west coast of the United States of America is that earthquakes would take place at the San Andreas Fault when the energy stored in locked plates are released, as shown in the image attached.
Read more on tectonic plates here: brainly.com/question/7642601
