Why are there more earthquakes in the weastern hemisphere?

Answer 1

More Earthquakes occur in the western hemisphere because Earth's tectonic plate(lithosphere plates, the hard rock materials that make up the oceans floor and where we live) are moving. Where these plates bump into each other is called a fault line.

There are different types of fault lines.

1. Like in California the San Andreas Fault is a Stick-Slip
2. Most of the Pacific are Convergent (Coming together)
3. Divergent is like in the Middle of the Atlantic Ocean it is moving apart.

When these plates move there is allot of energy released which we feel as the earth (land) moving. I. e.... earthquake.

You must understand, for rock that is 5 miles to 45 + miles thick when it moves and inch or two the land around will shake.

picture this, you are swimming in a calm lake and somebody drives a boat across the water . The waves coming at you are energy. When they reach you you bounce around a little.
When the plates move(they are the boat) the earthquak is the energy that you feel(it is the wave)

Answer 2

this is more of a trick question. it is not that there are more earthquakes, it is that there are more quakes that do damage. have u ever heard of an earthquake in the U.K. if no u should have because there are 25 or so a week last time i checked. they are only very small so u done really notice them.

another reason is that there are alot more active fault margins in that area. (look into the pacific ring or fire). there are alot of conflicting plate movments causeing violent movements.

another reason is that the area is highly populated so even a smaller quake looks violent. one of the biggest earthquakes happened in the middle of alaska and was only felt by a few people. on a scale of 1-10 for damage it was only a 1 but a 8+ on the richter scale. a 4+ on the richter scale in the centre of a city would be 6 or more on a scale of damage.

Answer 3

Because there are more active fault lines due to the continuing motion of the 'Americas' away from Europe.

HTH

Doug