Why do subduction zones have the potential to create the largest earthquakes on Earth?
A)The convergence creates exceedingly large amounts of friction.
B)Subduction zones create the highest pressures of any plate boundary.
C)Subduction zones have very large areas for potential rupture and thus can produce large earthquakes.
D)This is not true.Transform faults (like the San Andreas)can produce the largest earthquakes.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Subduction zones have a large area of potential rupture due to the large size of the subducting plate and the overlying plate. This creates a lot of stored energy that can be released in a single, large earthquake. The other options, while contributing factors, do not fully explain why subduction zones have the potential to create the largest earthquakes on Earth.

Why Do Subduction Zones Have the Potential to Create the Largest