Tsunamis, earthquakes, and trenches all have one thing in common, plate tectonics. There are three kinds of plate tectonic boundaries: divergent, convergent, and transform plate boundaries. All of these types can trigger different reactions. Tsunamis occur when two plates converge. The lighter plate goes on top of the heavier plate and the seafloor snaps. The tension is released and displaces the water causing a tsunami. Earthquakes occur at divergent plates. A new crust is formed and the old crust is pushed apart. The old crust cracks and that is where earthquakes occur. The largest earthquake to ever occur was in Valdivia, Chile. It measured a 9.5 on the Richter scale and caused unthinkable damage. The Richter scale was developed in 1935 to measure the strength of earthquakes. The Richter scale measures the maximum amplitude of seismic waves as they reach seismographs. A 5.0 on the Richter scale would be 10 times larger than a 4.0 because the Richter scale is measured logarithmically. Transform plates are when plates rub against each-other causing extreme stress. Rock breaks and earthquakes can happen. The most common phenomenon coin-siding with transform plates are faults. The most famous fault is the San Andreas Fault in California. This fault is a right lateral strike-slip fault meaning there are vertical fractures where the blocks have mostly moved horizontally. The San Andreas fault is between the Pacific plate and the North American Plate. Tsunamis, earthquakes, and faults are all side effects of plate tectonics and can cause a lot of damage.
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