Earthquakes and Tectonics

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to earthquakes, tectonic plates, and seismic activity.

Earthquake

A sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust causing ground shaking.

Epicenter

The point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake.

Seismic Waves

Waves of energy that travel through the Earth's layers as a result of seismic activity.

Magnitude

A measure of the energy released during an earthquake.

Intensity

The measure of the shaking and damage caused by an earthquake at a specific location.

Plate Tectonics

The theory explaining the movement of the Earth's lithosphere which is divided into plates.

Convergent Boundary

A tectonic plate boundary where two plates collide or move towards each other.

Divergent Boundary

A tectonic plate boundary where two plates move apart from each other.

Transform Boundary

A tectonic plate boundary where two plates slide past one another.

Elastic Rebound Theory

A theory that explains how energy builds up in rocks and is released during an earthquake.

Fault

A fracture or zone of fractures between two blocks of rock.

Normal Fault

A type of fault where the hanging wall moves down relative to the footwall.

Reverse Fault

A fault in which the hanging wall moves up relative to the footwall.

Strike-Slip Fault

A fault in which two blocks slide past each other horizontally.

Wadati–Benioff Zone

A zone of seismicity corresponding to the subduction of an oceanic plate beneath a continental or another oceanic plate.

Seismic Belt

A region of the Earth's surface where earthquakes are concentrated, often along plate boundaries.

Left lateral strike slip fault

a type of strike-slip fault where the opposite block moves to the left when viewed from either side.

Right lateral Strike Slip Fault

a type of strike-slip fault where the opposite block moves to the right when viewed from either side.