Earthquake

Earthquake

Of or pertaining to the natural phenomenon when tectonic plates slide or move causing the Earth's surface also move which causes devastating damage to cities and towns.

Industry: Natural environment

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Earthquake

bedrock

Natural environment; Earthquake

Solid rock that is exposed or underlies softer rock, sediments, or soil.

floating earthquake

Natural environment; Earthquake

Earthquakes in regions of moderate to high seismicity that cannot be correlated with known geologic structures and thus are assumed to be likely to occur at any location in the region.

body wave

Natural environment; Earthquake

Seismic vibration from an earthquake propagated deep underground.

focal depth

Natural environment; Earthquake

The depth below the surface of the hypocenter or focus of an earthquake.

body-wave magnitude

Natural environment; Earthquake

See magnitude, body wave.

focus

Natural environment; Earthquake

The point within the earth where earthquake rupture begins.

brittle behavior

Natural environment; Earthquake

Failure (sudden loss of strength) at some critical stress either by breaking along a new fracture or, most commonly, by frictional sliding on an already existing fracture.