Why are earthquakes on continents most likely to occur above the brittle-plastic transition depth?
A) Below this transition,the rocks respond to stress by cracking and breaking
B) Below the transition,the rocks respond to stress by changing shape without breaking
C) Below the transition,the rocks are molten.
D) Below the transition,there are not stresses that could cause earthquakes.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Below the brittle-plastic transition depth, rocks are warmer and under higher pressure, which allows them to deform plastically (change shape) rather than fracturing. Earthquakes typically occur in the brittle regime above this depth, where rocks respond to stress by breaking, because the plastic deformation below this depth does not generate seismic waves.

Why Are Earthquakes on Continents Most Likely to Occur Above