Divergent plate boundaries are most closely associated with which hazards?

• A. Explosive volcanism and tsunamis
• B. Transform fault earthquakes
• C. Earthquakes and some volcanism (rifting)
• D. Subduction megathrust earthquakes

Answer: (C)

Divergent boundaries pull apart the crust, creating earthquakes from the tensional stress and allowing mantle upwelling to form new crust. This combination leads to two main hazards: earthquakes from the stretching of rocks and, at rift zones, volcanism as the mantle melts and magma rises to the surface. The volcanism at rifting is typically less explosive and basaltic, contrasting with the explosive volcanism seen at subduction zones. Transform fault earthquakes are associated with transform boundaries, where plates slide past each other horizontally. Subduction megathrust earthquakes occur at subduction zones where one plate dives beneath another, not at divergent boundaries. So the most fitting pair for divergent boundaries is earthquakes plus some volcanism from rifting.