A seismic gap is a section of a known active fault that hasn’t ruptured in a long time compared to other segments. Seismologists believe these gaps are “overdue” for an earthquake because tectonic stress continues to build up there, making them high-probability sites for future major events. ANSWER: (B) A segment of an active fault that has not experienced an earthquake for a long time.
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The “Seismic Gap Hypothesis” is a primary tool for long-term earthquake forecasting. If a fault line is moving at 5 cm per year, but one 100-km segment hasn’t moved for 100 years, that segment has accumulated 5 meters of potential “slip.” These gaps are essentially “stuck” portions of a boundary. Identifying gaps, such as those along the Himalayan front or the Cascadia subduction zone, helps governments prioritize earthquake preparedness and building code enforcement in the areas most likely to face a massive rupture next.