Which outcome occurs when a fault line is subjected to high pore fluid pressure?

A)Decreased frequency of smaller tremors

B)Increased probability of large earthquake✓

C)Elevated geothermal gradient near fault

D)Accelerated chemical weathering of rocks

💡 Explanation

When pore fluid pressure increases, effective normal stress on the fault plane decreases, which reduces frictional resistance because shear strength is directly proportional to effective normal stress, leading to slip instability and increasing probability of a large earthquake. Therefore a large earthquake results rather than more smaller events requiring changes in stress distribution and rock strength.

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Which outcome occurs when a fault line is subjected to high pore fluid pressure?

💡 Explanation

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