Question

How are earthquakes at Continental plate boundaries different from earthquakes at mid ocean ridges?
• They are longer in duration.
• They begin deeper in Earth's crust.
• They are shorter in duration.
• They begin closer to Earth's surface.

Answers

GPT 3.5
Earthquakes at Continental plate boundaries are different from earthquakes at mid-ocean ridges in the following ways:

1. They are longer in duration: Earthquakes at continental plate boundaries are often associated with the collision or subduction of tectonic plates. These processes can generate large-scale earthquakes that last for a relatively long duration due to the immense energy release involved.

2. They begin deeper in Earth's crust: Continental plate boundaries are typically characterized by subduction zones where one plate sinks beneath another. These subduction zones can reach significant depths, resulting in earthquakes that initiate at greater depths in the Earth's crust.

On the other hand,

3. They are shorter in duration: Earthquakes at mid-ocean ridges occur due to the spreading of tectonic plates, causing the lithosphere to crack and generate seismic activity. These earthquakes are generally smaller and less destructive compared to those at plate boundaries, resulting in shorter durations.

4. They begin closer to Earth's surface: Mid-ocean ridge earthquakes originate within the oceanic crust, which is much thinner than continental crust. As a result, seismic activity associated with mid-ocean ridges tends to initiate closer to the Earth's surface compared to earthquakes at continental plate boundaries.

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