Earthquake Prediction and Precursors

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to earthquake prediction and associated theories.

Elastic Rebound Theory

A theory that explains how energy is stored in rocks and released as seismic waves during an earthquake.

Gutenberg and Richter Law

A law that describes the relationship between the magnitude and frequency of earthquakes.

Omori Law

A law stating that the frequency of aftershocks decreases with time after a main shock, following a 1/t decay.

Bath Law

A law that states the magnitude of the largest aftershock is typically 1.1 to 1.2 units smaller than the main shock.

Earthquake Prediction

A short-term prediction that specifies a location, time, and magnitude for an expected earthquake.

Earthquake Forecast

A long-term probability statement about future earthquakes in a specified area.

Foreshocks

Smaller seismic events that occur before a larger earthquake.

Precursors

Anomalous phenomena that might indicate an impending earthquake, such as animal behavior or water level changes.

Seismicity

The frequency and distribution of earthquakes in a given area.

Intensity Map

A map that shows the varying strength and effects of an earthquake across different regions.

Modified Mercalli Scale

A scale used to measure the intensity of earthquakes based on observed effects.