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Where is an earthquake more likely to occur - along North America's pacific coast or along one of North America's other coasts?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
the west coast is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean which has an active margin tectonically. There is more volcanic activity due to the Pacific rim of fire. The East coast has the Atlantic Ocean which has a passive margin thus not much tectonic activity. In the west coast, the Pacific plate subducts beneath the North American plate which causes faulting, folding, and wrinkling of the north american continental crust hence the earthquakes.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoThe Pacific coast of North America is along one of the most active fault systems on Earth, known as the "Ring of Fire". All around the Pacific ocean, there are earthquakes and volcanoes going off almost constantly, as the Pacific Plate is squeezed from both directions.
The Atlantic coast, on the other hand, isn't along a plate boundary. The North American Plate goes all the way east to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where North America and Europe are moving apart. This fractures the crust allowing magma to well up and build new undersea mountains.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoan earthquake is more likely to occur along the North America's Pacific coast
Wiki User
∙ 13y agobecause the plates under the ground are much more secure then others. I think?
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoThe west coast because of all the fault lines. Ex. the San Andreas fault.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agobecause the east coast is cool like that
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How likely is Edmonton to be struck by an earthquake?
no one really knows
What is the measurement of how likely an area is to have damage called?
an earthquake hazard
What is the magnitude of the London earthquake in 1247?
There was no London epicentered earthquake that year. If you are referring to the Welsh earthquake of that year (which was felt in London), it is likely to have been at least 5.5 - 6.0 on the righter scale
What is most likely to occur when an earthquake happens under whater?
tsunami,flooding
Which natural disaster is most likely to affect countries in the ring of fire?
An earthquake
What is the most likely cause of the volcanic and earthquake activity in the pacific northwest?
The volcanic and earthquake activity in the Pacific Northwest is mainly caused by the movement of the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate being subducted beneath the North American plate. This subduction process creates pressure and friction, leading to volcanic eruptions and seismic activity in the region.
Which region would you be more likely to experience an earthquake the northeast region or the pacific region?
northeast region
What is the measurement of how likely an area is to have damaging earthquake called?
an earthquake hazard
Why is the California coast at risk from tsunamis?
An undersea earthquake, anywhere in the vastness of the Pacific Ocean, is likely to effect any country whose coast borders the ocean - not just California alone.
Where is a major earthquake most likely to occur?
Along the San Andreas Fault in California is one likely place for an earthquake.
Does an earthquake in Japan make it more likely that there will be an earthquake in the US or Canada?
Yes, because the pacific ocean is in Japan and in Canada(British Columbia) The Pacific Ocean is not in Japan or in Canada... They both border the ocean which is HUGE. The question is about the relationship between earthquakes and plates along the ring of fire... Did the NZ earthquake have anything to do with the Japan earthquake? Do the plates moving in these 2 places create a greater probability plates will also move thousands of miles away along the ring on this side of the ocean? Is there any data to back this up?
What is the likelihood of a napier earthquake?
not likely
How likely is an earthquake in Greece?
not very
What is the earthquake frequency for Japan?
likely
When is an earthquake likely to occur?
Anytime
Why is Idaho most likely to have an earthquake?
Yes, there is a possibility of an earthquake in any state but some are less likely to have earthquakes than others.
Where does an earthquake occur in the US?
An earthquake can occur anywhere in the U.S., but they occur more frequently along faults and faultlines. The expectation of a major earthquake (i.e. greater than 6.0) within the U.S. is greater along a tectonic fault or major fault (i.e. like the San Andreas fault in California). In general, the west coast of the U.S. is more likely to experience a major earthquake. One extreme hypothesis is that the Pacific Ocean was created as the result of a major impact upon the Earth's mantle layer which formed the famed 'ring of fire' (sometime before life appeared). While the Pacific Plate became the healing scab for this major impact upon earth, there is a general flowing of the Pacific Plate westward,receding from the U.S. and leaving a void to be filled. In general, the east coast of the U.S. is less likely to experience a major earthquake. On the opposite side of the planet fromthe conjectured Pacific impact, a crack in the Earth extending from north to south pole formed the mid-Atlantic Ridge. Once opened, this crack providing for the spreading center from which the east coast is continually supported with new foundation. However, it also continually expands the separation between the Americas and Eurasian/African Plates, widening the Atlantic Ocean.
