Author Question: Some geologists hypothesize that the tug and pull of lunar tidal forces are strong enough to trigger ... (Read 61 times)

ereecah · **on:** Jul 16, 2018

Some geologists hypothesize that the tug and pull of lunar tidal forces are strong enough to trigger volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Explain how you think this might happen. How would you test your hypotheses and what data would you need?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Look at the photos in Figure 19.44. What actions could have been taken to diminish the property loss that is evident in these views?

What will be an ideal response?

dudman123 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 16, 2018

Answer to Question 1

The gravitational pull of the lunar tides is a force that stresses Earth. This force might help to draw magma closer to the surface to cause an eruption. The force might also add to the accumulated strain along a fault and provide just enough additional deformation to trigger an earthquake. To test these hypotheses, I would need to compare the times of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes to the times of the high tides at each location and see if eruptions and earthquakes are more common at these times than on other occasions.

Answer to Question 2

One option would be to prohibit building homes so close to the beach; this would mean that fewer buildings would be vulnerable to hurricane-driven waves. Another option would be to build seawalls that would absorb wave energy rather than allowing the waves to sweep across the barrier island (although this would erode away the beach on the seaward side of the seawall). Also, the beach could be made wider, by either adding sand to the beach or by constructing groins that would capture sediment transported by longshore currents.