Question

What is given in the passage as an example of a transform boundary?

• A. Himalayan Mountain Range
• B. Mariana Trench
• C. Mid-Atlantic Ridge
• D. San Andreas Fault Zone

Answer 1

Answer:

D. San Andreas Fault Zone

Transform Boundaries and the San Andreas Fault Zone

Definition of Transform Boundaries

• Transform boundaries are geological fault lines where two tectonic plates slide horizontally past each other.
• Unlike convergent or divergent boundaries, transform boundaries neither create nor destroy crust; they simply move existing crustal plates sideways.
• These boundaries are characterized by significant seismic activity, including frequent earthquakes.

The San Andreas Fault Zone as an Example

• The San Andreas Fault Zone is a prime example of a transform plate boundary in action.
• It runs through the state of California in the United States.
• This fault system marks the boundary between the Pacific Plate (which is moving northwest) and the North American Plate (which is moving southeast).
• The motion along the San Andreas Fault is predominantly strike-slip, meaning the blocks of crust move sideways relative to each other.

Geological Significance and Seismic Activity

• The San Andreas Fault Zone is responsible for many of the earthquakes experienced in California, including major historical events.
• Notable earthquakes associated with this fault include the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.
• The movement along the fault is not smooth; the plates lock up, build stress, and then release it suddenly, causing earthquakes.
• Scientists closely monitor the San Andreas Fault Zone due to its significant geological importance and the potential for large-magnitude earthquakes.

Comparative Geology

• Other examples of transform faults globally include the North Anatolian Fault in Turkey and the Alpine Fault in New Zealand.
• Understanding these fault types is crucial in plate tectonics theory, which explains the large-scale motion of Earth's lithosphere.