Question

Read the passage given below and answer the following questions.

The earthquakes experienced in the Himalayan region are caused due to the convergent boundary formed due to the movement of the Indian plate into the Eurasian plate. You will be amazed to know that the Indian plate was originally located at about 50° S latitude and has moved northward to its present location on the Earth. The divergent plate boundary formed due to the movements in the Mid oceanic ridge is the main cause of earthquakes under the sea. Mid oceanic ridge measures about 70,000 km and lies in the middle of the five oceans. Volcanic eruptions are another major cause of earthquakes. In fact the earthquakes and the volcanoes go hand in hand, since one may lead to another. There are also some human factors which may cause earthquakes. These are generally minor in nature. The mining and quarrying activities, the chemical and nuclear explosions, building of dams and reservoirs, using the dynamite for construction of roads in the mountainous region, etc. are some of the human factors. These are felt locally only.

1. Name the two tectonic plates whose convergent boundaries led to the formation of the himalayas.
2. What is the cause of earthquakes that take place under the oceans?
3. Earthquakes and volcanoes go hand in hand. What does this mean?
4. Name two human activities which may cause local earthquakes.

Answer 1

1. The Indian plate and the Eurasian plate.
2. The divergent plate boundary formed due to the movements in the mid oceanic ridge is the main cause of earthquakes under the sea.
3. This means that earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are closely related since one may lead to another.
4. Mining and quarrying activities, and chemical or nuclear explosions. Other examples include building dams and reservoirs and using dynamite for construction of roads in mountainous regions.