Earthquake Vocabulary Flashcards
The source point of an earthquake from which waves emanate.
focus
The process by which faults bind, store elastic energy, then rupture in an earthquake.
stick-slip
The study of earthquake waves.
seismology
An instrument for recording earthquake waves.
seismograph
A record of ground motion produced by a seismograph.
seismogram
Earthquake waves that travel along the Earth’s outer layer.
surface waves
Earthquake waves that travel through the Earth’s interior.
body waves
Longitudinal (push-pull/compression) body waves.
P waves (primary waves)
Transverse (shape deformation perpendicular to the direction of wave motion) body waves.
S waves (secondary waves)
The kind of body wave which cannot travel through fluids.
S waves (secondary waves)
The fastest kind of earthquake wave.
P wave
The slowest kind of earthquake wave.
surface wave
The location on the surface of the Earth directly above the focus of an earthquake.
epicenter
A measure of earthquake size by the amount of damage.
intensity
A measure of earthquake size based on calculations from measurements to estimate earthquake energy.
magnitude
