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Lesson 3: Analyzing Earthquake Data (Earth's Dynamic Systems)

Terms in this set (34)

Aftershock
An earthquake that occurs later along the same fault zone as a major earthquake, but before the area has returned to its normal level of seismic activity.
Asthenosphere
The layer of the mantle that lies directly below the lithosphere and flows very, very slowly on long timescales.
Body Wave
An earthquake wave that travels through the body of Earth rather than on its surface.
Core
Earth's innermost layers, consisting of a liquid iron outer core and a solid iron-nickel inner core.
Crust
Earth's outer layer; the coolest and least dense layer of Earth.
Earthquake
Vibrations within Earth caused by the sudden release of energy, usually as a result of the movement of rocks along a fault.
Earthquake Swarm
When many earthquakes occur in a small area over a short period of time.
Epicenter
Location on Earth's surface directly above an earthquake's focus, or origin.
Fault
A fracture in bedrock, along with blocks of rock on opposite sides of the fracture move.
Focus
Location beneath Earth's surface where the energy of an earthquake is released.
Force
A push or pull between objects.
Friction
A force that opposes the motion of objects which are in contact.
Globe
A spherical model of Earth.
Intensity
A measure of the damage done by an earthquake that is determined on the basis of the earthquake's effect on people, structures and the natural environment.
Lithosphere
The cool, solid outer shell of Earth. It consists of the crust and rigid uppermost part of the mantle and is broken up into segments, or plates.
Magnitude
A measure of the total amount of energy released at the focus of an earthquake.
Mantle
The layer of Earth beneath the crust. It is about 2,900 km (1,800 mi) thick, and makes up about 83% of Earth's interior.
Map
A representation of Earth (or part of Earth), usually on a flat surface.
Mitigate
To make less severe, intense, or painful.
Model
A tool scientists and engineers use to represent ideas or provide an explanation. Models may include diagrams, drawings, physical replicas, mathematical representations, analogies, or computer simulations.
Plate
A large, mobile segment of Earth's lithosphere.
Plate Tectonics
A theory that the lithosphere is broken into segments, or plates, that "float" on the asthenosphere, and that interactions among these plates are associated with earthquakes and volcanic activity and form mid-ocean ridges, trenches, mountains, and chains of volcanic islands.
P-wave
A primary (compressional) earthquake wave that travels through the body of Earth; so named because it is the first wave to reach a seismograph station during an earthquake.
Risk
Exposure to the chance of injury or loss.
Rocks
Naturally forming material that is usually made of up to two or more distinct minerals.
Seismic Wave
A wave of energy generated by an earthquake, volcano, or other explosive event.
Seismogram
The record made by a seismograph; the paper on which data about earthquake waves is recorded.
Seismograph
An instrument used to detect earthquake waves.
Seismology
The study of earthquakes and seismic phenomena.
Seismometer
An instrument used to detect earthquake waves.
Surface Wave
An earthquake wave that travels at or near the surface of Earth.
S-wave
A secondary earthquake wave, so named because it travels slower than a primary wave and is the second wave to reach the seismograph station after an earthquake. It travels through the body of Earth as a series of crests and troughs.
Tectonic Plate
A piece of Earth's crust that, according to plate tectonics, is pushed by movement in the asthenosphere.
Tsunami
A series of sea waves caused by undersea events, such as an earthquake beneath the ocean floor, that rise to great heights as they near a shore.
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