Question

Give a geographical reason for the following:

Most earthquakes occur on account of plate movements.

Answer 1

Most earthquakes occur on account of plate movements because the Earth’s lithosphere is divided into large sections known as tectonic plates, which are constantly in motion. These plates move due to convection currents in the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath them. When these plates collide, pull apart, or slide past each other, immense stress builds up at the plate boundaries. When this stress is released suddenly, it results in seismic waves, causing earthquakes. The majority of the world’s earthquakes occur along these plate boundaries, especially in regions like the Ring of Fire around the Pacific Ocean, where plate movements are most active.