Seismology basics, fault types, and volcanic types and features from an intro geology course.
36 cards · basic cards · AI-written, checked twice. Edit anything.
- What is an earthquake?
- Sudden release of energy caused by rock rupture along a fault
- What is the focus of an earthquake?
- The point within Earth where rock rupture begins
- What is the epicenter?
- The point on Earth's surface directly above the earthquake focus
- How is earthquake magnitude measured?
- By the amount of energy released, using the Richter or moment magnitude scale
- What is the key difference between magnitude and intensity?
- Magnitude measures energy released; intensity measures observed damage and human effects
- What are P-waves in seismology?
- Primary waves; the fastest seismic waves that travel through both solids and liquids
- What are S-waves?
- Secondary waves; seismic waves slower than P-waves that travel through solids only
- What are surface waves in earthquakes?
- The slowest seismic waves that travel along Earth's surface and cause the most damage
- What does a seismograph measure?
- The motion and vibrations of earthquakes recorded in the ground
- What causes earthquakes?
- Sudden movement or rupture along faults as tectonic stress is released
- What is an aftershock?
- A smaller earthquake that follows a main earthquake along the same fault
- What is a foreshock?
- A smaller earthquake that precedes a main earthquake from the same fault area
- What is a fault?
- A fracture or plane in rock along which movement or displacement has occurred
- What characterizes a normal fault?
- The hanging wall moves down relative to the footwall, caused by tensional stress
- What characterizes a reverse fault?
- The hanging wall moves up relative to the footwall, caused by compressional stress