Geology and Earthquakes

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and concepts related to geology, earthquakes, and their effects.

Earthquake Focus

The location where the movement begins on the fault, usually below the surface.

Epicenter

The point on the Earth's surface directly above where an earthquake originates.

Fault Scarp

A visible displacement on the Earth's surface that results from movement along a fault.

Normal Fault

A type of fault where the upper side slides down relative to the lower side due to extensional forces.

Reverse Fault

A fault where the upper side moves up relative to the lower side due to compressional forces.

Strike-Slip Fault

A fault where two blocks of land slide past each other horizontally.

Tsunami

A series of ocean waves caused by large underwater disturbances, such as earthquakes, that can result in significant coastal flooding.

Ghost Forest

An area where trees have died due to rising ocean waters, often as a result of past earthquakes and tsunamis.

San Andreas Fault

A major fault line in California that is known for its strike-slip motion and seismic activity.

Seismic Waves

Waves of energy that travel through the Earth's layers as a result of an earthquake.

Magnitude

A measure of the amount of energy released during an earthquake, often measured on the Richter scale.

Aftershock

Smaller earthquakes that occur in the same general area after a larger earthquake.

Liquefaction

A phenomenon where saturated soil substantially loses strength and stiffness in response to applied stress, often during an earthquake.

P-Waves (Primary Waves)

The fastest seismic waves that compress and expand the ground in the direction they travel.

S-Waves (Secondary Waves)

Seismic waves that move the ground up and down or side to side, and are slower than P-waves.

Richter Scale

A logarithmic scale used to measure the magnitude of an earthquake.

Seismograph

An instrument that measures and records details of earthquakes, such as force and duration.

Tectonic Plates

Large plates that make up the Earth's surface and move, causing earthquakes in areas where they interact.