question+4

4) How do earthquakes provide strong evidence to support the theory of plate tectonics?
 * Think about where the majority of earthquakes happen
 * Explain why earthquakes provide good evidence for the theory of plate tectonics
 * Give evidence to back up your answer here!

I'm sure you know what earthquakes are, especially after my classmates have explained it up there. But do you know exactly what plate tectonics are? Well, all of this, earthquakes, volcanoes, etc., are plate tectonics. The idea is that the earth's crust is separated into different sections called plates that float around on top of the earth's mantle, causing all these things. But this idea is still just that, an idea. A theory, because some scientists don't believe it's possible. But there's plenty of evidence to support it, and here's why earthquakes are part of that evidence to support plate tectonics.

Earthquakes mostly happen around places where there are thought to be plate boundaries, more commonly known as fault lines. Faults are gigantic breaks in the ground between plates. And when those plates move, you get a lot or a few earthquakes, strong or not, depending how much they move. This movement is called continental. drift. Have you ever heard that all the continents were once one continent, a super-continent? This continent was called Pangea (Pan-jee-uh). Then Pangea broke apart, creating the continents we have now. Think that's crazy? Look at a map. See how the continents kind of look like puzzle pieces? How they might fit together? That seems like pretty good evidence that the plates move and cause earthquakes to me. But if you're still not satisfied, be my guest and read on.

Now, with what I just said in mind, think about this. You know the Himalayas? Mount Everest, all that? There is a plate boundary there. Seem plausible? Well, guess what? There's also a lot of earthquakes there. Not to mention, Mount Everest is growing about 2.5 cm (1 in) every year. How about the great earthquake of San Fransisco, along the San Andreas fault line? Well, there's a plate boundary there too. Between the North American and Pacific Plates. Along the east coast of Asia, there is a trench about 10,400 m (that's about 31,200 ft) deep. We've got a good deal of earthquakes there too, on the boundary between the Eurasian plate and the Pacific. Now look at this map. The yellow spots are earthquakes. The brown is plate boundaries. But this map is not entirely accurate, as there should be earthquakes all along the boundary lines. (Also, this map only shows since 1900, and if you really want to be accurate, an earthquake map should cover a span of at least 1