Story perspectives
Understanding Earthquakes: Types, Magnitudes, and Fault Lines
10/27/2025
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Story summary
- Earthquakes occur along tectonic plate boundaries due to three main fault types: normal, reverse (thrust), and strike-slip.
- Normal and reverse faults involve vertical movement, while strike-slip faults move horizontally.
- Normal faults in stretched crust typically produce earthquakes below magnitude 7.
- Reverse faults at convergent boundaries cause megathrust events often exceeding magnitude 8.
- Strike-slip faults, such as the San Andreas Fault, can reach magnitude 8 but have limited rupture width.
