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

Accelerometer

Natural environment; Earthquake

An instrument used to measure acceleration. Used to measure the response of the ground or a structure to shaking in an earthquake.

Acceptable risk

Natural environment; Earthquake

The probability of social or economic consequences due to a hazard that is a realistic basis for determining design requirements or taking certain social or economic actions.

Active fault

Natural environment; Earthquake

A fault along which displacement has occurred in recent geologic time or along which earthquake foci are located. Active faults are assumed to be capable of producing earthquakes.

Alluvium

Natural environment; Earthquake

Loosely compacted sand, gravel, and silt deposited by streams in relatively recent geologic time.

Amplification (seismic)

Natural environment; Earthquake

The increase in surface ground motion at certain frequencies in unconsolidated sediments relative to the motion in solid rock.

Amplitude (wave)

Natural environment; Earthquake

Maximum deviation from normal of any wave-like disturbance.

Asthenosphere

Natural environment; Earthquake

The soft and probably partly molten layer of the earth below the lithosphere. Distinguished by low seismic-wave velocities and high seismic wave attenuation .