This article from "Geology News" immediately caught my attention because it is so exciting to be able to relate to the outside world what we have learned in class. We all know that most earthquakes essentially form along fault lines. This article addresses the question of "is there a corresponding increase in the number of earthquakes along a fault as the speed of the fault increases?" The new study published in the recent December issue of BSSA shows that this correlation depends on the type tectonic plate boundary. The scientists involved looked at plate velocity and found that it stayed consistent along continental faults but earthquake productivity decreased with increasing spreading rate along ocean ridges. With a little more research, this could show that these areas in subduction zones are potentially safer. The more we can find out about which areas are most likely to have a catastrophic, the better. Thanks to this knowledge in California, there are many many precautions.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-12/ssoa-nsc120309.php
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