A. Earthquakes (i) Name one place where earthquakes occur - Junior Cycle Geography - Question A. - 2009

In the provided diagram:

• Area A is named the Focus.
• Area B is referred to as the Epicentre.

Earthquakes are primarily caused by the movement of tectonic plates beneath the Earth's surface. These plates can collide, pull apart, or slide against one another, creating stress that, when released, generates seismic waves. The main causes include:

1. Tectonic Plate Movements: As plates interact at their boundaries, they can become locked due to friction, leading to stress accumulation. Eventually, the stress exceeds the frictional forces, resulting in an earthquake.

2. Volcanic Activity: Earthquakes can also occur in volcanic regions, often as magma moves within the Earth's crust, fracturing surrounding rocks and generating seismic activity.

3. Human Activity: Certain activities such as mining, reservoir-induced seismicity from large dams, or even fracking can induce earthquakes.