An earthquake occurs at a convergent boundary. The earthquake has a high magnitude, and an observer reports the earthquake having low intensity. Which statement about the earthquake is correct?(1 point)
Responses
A. The earthquake was caused by plates moving apart. It did not release much energy, but the observer saw a lot of damage.
B. The earthquake was caused by plates moving together. It did not release much energy, but the observer saw a lot of damage.
C. The earthquake was caused by plates moving apart. It released a lot of energy, but the observer did not see much damage.
D. The earthquake was caused by plates moving together. It released a lot of energy, but the observer did not see much damage.
D. The earthquake was caused by plates moving together. It released a lot of energy, but the observer did not see much damage.
To determine the correct statement about the earthquake, we need to consider the given information: the earthquake occurs at a convergent boundary, has a high magnitude, and the observer reports low intensity.
At a convergent boundary, two tectonic plates are colliding or moving towards each other. This often results in strong earthquakes due to the intense pressure and friction between the plates.
Magnitude refers to the total amount of energy released by an earthquake, which is usually measured using the Richter scale. High magnitude indicates that a significant amount of energy was released.
On the other hand, intensity refers to the level of shaking and damage observed at the Earth's surface. Intensity is measured using the Modified Mercalli Scale, which takes into account the effects of an earthquake.
With this information, we can eliminate options A and B. Both options suggest that the earthquake was caused by plates moving apart, but the question clearly states that it occurs at a convergent boundary where plates move together.
Now, let's consider option C and D. Option C states that the earthquake was caused by plates moving apart and released a lot of energy, but the observer did not see much damage. Option D states that the earthquake was caused by plates moving together, released a lot of energy, but the observer did not see much damage.
Based on the given information, the correct statement is D. The earthquake was caused by plates moving together, it released a lot of energy (high magnitude), but the observer did not see much damage (low intensity).