What causes earthquakes?
What causes earthquakes?
user
Earthquakes are caused by pressure changes in the earth's crust. This happens when fluids (like the molten mantle and the circulating tectonic plates) shift, causing the earth's outer crust to crack.
assistant
Why are some areas more susceptible to earthquakes than others?
user
Tectonic plates are made of solid material, so they can move relatively easily. If they have large surfaces that can slide against each other, they may experience a sudden, sudden pressure change. These areas are more likely to experience earthquakes.
assistant
Does Bay Area (San Francisco, for example) fit the description?
user
The San Andreas Fault (between California and Nevada) is the western part of the larger Pacific ring of fire. It's a very long fault, going north-south across the US. There are several plate boundaries, and a lot of plate motion occurs along it. If this movement releases enough energy, it could cause an earthquake. I don't know much about specific Bay Area faults, but I could learn and tell you more.
assistant
The reason why I asked was because I heard about a big earthquake that happened in San Francisco decades ago.
user