What boundary did the Prince William Sound earthquake have? (transform, divergent, convergent.)
To determine the type of boundary for the Prince William Sound earthquake, we need to understand the three types of plate boundaries: transform, divergent, and convergent.
1. Transform boundary: This occurs when two plates slide past each other horizontally. There is no creation or destruction of the Earth's lithosphere at this type of boundary. An example of a transform boundary is the San Andreas Fault in California.
2. Divergent boundary: This occurs when two plates move away from each other. It results in the creation of new lithosphere through volcanic activity and the formation of mid-ocean ridges. An example of a divergent boundary is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
3. Convergent boundary: This occurs when two plates collide with each other. It results in the destruction of oceanic lithosphere through subduction or the collision of two continental plates to form mountain ranges. Examples of convergent boundaries include the Himalayas and the Andes.
To determine the type of boundary involved in the Prince William Sound earthquake, we need to consider the geographical location. The Prince William Sound is located in Alaska, which is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire—a region prone to seismic activity due to numerous tectonic plate interactions.
The earthquake in the Prince William Sound occurred as a result of the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the North American Plate. This means that it was a convergent boundary earthquake.
Therefore, the boundary associated with the Prince William Sound earthquake is a convergent boundary.