Question

Tsunamis are frequently caused by earthquakes at

• A. slow-spreading ridges
• B. fast-spreading ridges
• C. subduction zones
• D. transform faults

Hint:

Tsunamis are most commonly caused by vertical displacement of the ocean floor during earthquakes at subduction zones.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding Tsunamis.
Tsunamis are large ocean waves that are typically generated by undersea earthquakes. These waves can travel vast distances and cause devastation when they reach coastlines. Tsunamis are often caused by vertical displacement of the ocean floor, which occurs during earthquakes.

Step 2: Analyzing subduction zones.
Subduction zones are areas where one tectonic plate is forced beneath another. Earthquakes in these zones can cause vertical displacements of the ocean floor, which is a primary cause of tsunamis. The energy from the earthquake is transferred to the water, creating massive waves.

Step 3: Analyzing slow-spreading ridges.
Slow-spreading ridges typically involve lateral movement of tectonic plates, which does not generally lead to significant vertical displacements in the ocean floor. Therefore, slow-spreading ridges are not major sources of tsunamis.

Step 4: Analyzing fast-spreading ridges.
Fast-spreading ridges, like slow-spreading ridges, involve tectonic plates moving apart at divergent boundaries. The earthquakes at these locations tend to produce less vertical movement of the ocean floor and therefore are not commonly associated with tsunamis.

Step 5: Analyzing transform faults.
Transform faults are locations where two plates slide past each other horizontally. While these faults can produce earthquakes, the horizontal displacement does not generally displace the ocean floor vertically enough to generate a tsunami.

Step 6: Conclusion.
Subduction zones are the primary location for earthquakes that cause tsunamis, due to the vertical displacement of the ocean floor. Hence, the correct answer is (C).
\[ \boxed{\text{Subduction zones}} \]