Word: semimolten
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 2000-2009
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Earthquakes, scientists now know, occur along the San Andreas because the immense slabs of rock that make up the earth's crust are ever so slowly sliding past one another, borne by poorly understood currents that roil through a sea of semimolten rock. By keeping tabs on the position of key landmarks on either side of the fault, scientists can measure the speed at which the plates are traveling, in this case about 2 in. a year. The problem for the Bay Area boils down to this: except for one short section, the plates on either side...