Everything You Need to Know About Earthquakes in One Place
An earthquake, the shaking of Earth’s surface, results from energy release in the lithosphere. Primarily caused by tectonic plate movement and stress buildup along faults, other triggers include volcanic activity, landslides, and human actions like fracking. Key terms include hypocenter, epicenter, magnitude, intensity, seismic waves (P-waves, S-waves), aftershocks, and tsunamis. Earthquakes are measured by seismographs using scales like the Moment Magnitude Scale. High-risk areas include the Pacific Ring of Fire.