Question

The colors on the map above show the locations of the major lithospheric plates that make up the Earth's crust. Which city on the map is most likely to experience a major earthquake?
A.
Paris
B.
New York
C.
Rio de Janeiro
D.
Juneau

Answer 1

To determine which city is most likely to experience a major earthquake based on the locations of lithospheric plates, we need to consider their proximity to tectonic plate boundaries.

- **Paris (A)** is located in a relatively stable part of the Eurasian Plate, away from major tectonic boundaries.
- **New York (B)** is also situated on the stable North American Plate, although there are some minor fault lines nearby.
- **Rio de Janeiro (C)** is near the boundary between the South American Plate and the Nazca Plate, making it more susceptible to seismic activity.
- **Juneau (D)** is located in Alaska, which is close to the Pacific Plate boundary and has a history of significant seismic activity.

Based on this information, **Juneau (D)** is most likely to experience a major earthquake due to its proximity to tectonic plate boundaries known for high seismic activity.