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?

Question

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.