Mexico City's vulnerability to earthquakes is primarily due to being built on top of which material?

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Get ready for the Dual Enrollment Earth Science Test. Study strategically with multiple choice questions that include hints and detailed explanations.

Multiple Choice

Mexico City's vulnerability to earthquakes is primarily due to being built on top of which material?

Explanation:
Soft, unconsolidated, water-saturated sediments amplify seismic waves. Mexico City sits on thick lakebed deposits of silt from the ancient Lake Texcoco, which are loose and can become waterlogged during an earthquake. These conditions slow down and trap seismic waves, increasing the shaking at the surface and, in strong shaking, can lead to liquefaction. Harder materials like bedrock transmit less amplification, so the city’s vulnerability mainly comes from being built on silt.

Soft, unconsolidated, water-saturated sediments amplify seismic waves. Mexico City sits on thick lakebed deposits of silt from the ancient Lake Texcoco, which are loose and can become waterlogged during an earthquake. These conditions slow down and trap seismic waves, increasing the shaking at the surface and, in strong shaking, can lead to liquefaction. Harder materials like bedrock transmit less amplification, so the city’s vulnerability mainly comes from being built on silt.

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