How are earthquakes at continental plate boundaries different from earthquakes at mid-ocean ridges?(1 point) Responses They begin closer to Earth’s surface. They begin closer to Earth’s surface. They are shorter in duration. They are shorter in duration. They are longer in duration. They are longer in duration. They begin deeper in Earth’s crust.
They begin deeper in Earth’s crust.
Which describes ocean rocks that are found near mid-ocean ridges?(1 point) Responses They are younger and form through the cementation of sediments. They are younger and form through the cementation of sediments. They are older and form through the cementation of sediments. They are older and form through the cementation of sediments. They are younger and form through the cooling of magma. They are younger and form through the cooling of magma. They are older and form through the cooling of magma.
They are younger and form through the cooling of magma.
Earthquakes at continental plate boundaries are different from earthquakes at mid-ocean ridges in that they begin closer to Earth's surface. To understand why earthquakes at continental plate boundaries begin closer to Earth's surface, we need to understand the basic principle behind plate tectonics.
The Earth's lithosphere is divided into several large plates that are constantly moving. At continental plate boundaries, two continental plates collide, creating intense compression and causing rocks to break and slip along faults, releasing energy in the form of an earthquake. These earthquakes tend to occur closer to the Earth's surface because the continental crust is thicker and less dense compared to the oceanic crust.
On the other hand, at mid-ocean ridges, earthquakes occur along divergent plate boundaries where two oceanic plates are moving apart. As the plates separate, magma rises up to fill the gap, creating new oceanic crust. The earthquakes at mid-ocean ridges tend to originate deeper within Earth's crust because the oceanic crust is thinner and denser than the continental crust. The movement of the plates triggers volcanic activity and magma intrusion, resulting in earthquakes at greater depths.
In summary, earthquakes at continental plate boundaries begin closer to Earth's surface due to the collision of thicker continental crust, while earthquakes at mid-ocean ridges occur deeper within the oceanic crust due to the process of seafloor spreading.