Inseismology, aseismic zone orseismic belt is an area ofseismicity potentially sharing a common cause. It can be referred to as anearthquake belt as well. It may also be a region on a map for which a common areal rate of seismicity is assumed for the purpose of calculating probabilistic ground motions. An obsolete definition is a region on a map in which a common level of seismic design is required.[1]
A type of seismic zone is aWadati–Benioff zone which corresponds with the down-goingslab in asubduction zone.[2] The world's greatest seismic belt, known as theCircum-Pacific seismic belt,[3] is where a majority of the Earth's quakes occur. Approximately 81% of major earthquakes occur along this belt. The Circum-Pacific seismic belt has earned its own nickname and is often referred to as theRing of Fire, a ring-like formation that encompasses a majority of thePacific Ocean. The notoriousSan Andreas Fault,[4] responsible for many major quakes in theWest Coast of the United States, lies within the Circum-Pacific Seismic Belt or Ring of Fire.[5]
This article incorporatespublic domain material from websites or documents of theUnited States Geological Survey.
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