Earthquakes

Earthquakes

See also geology.

bathyseism

an earthquake occurring at very deep levels of the earth.

bradyseism

the slow upward and downward motion of the earth’s crust. — bradyseismic, adj.

cataclysm

any major disaster, as an earthquake, flood, etc. See also water. — cataclysmal, adj.

coseism

a line drawn about an epicenter through all points affected by the same seismic shock. — coseismic, adj.

epicenter

a point on the earth’s surface directly above the true center of the seismic disturbance from which the shock waves of an earthquake seem to radiate.

macroseism

a major earthquake. — macroseismic, adj.

megaseism

a violent earthquake. — megaseismic, adj.

microseism

an almost imperceptible earth tremor caused by a violent sea storm or an earthquake and detected only by a microseismometer. — microseismic, adj.

seismicity

the intensity, frequency, and distribution of earthquakes in a specific area.

seismism, seism

an earthquake. — seismic, adj.

seismogram

the record of an earthquake’s vibrations and intensity made by a seismograph.

seismograph

any of various devices for measuring and recording the vibrations and intensities of earthquakes. — seismographer, n. — seismographic, seismographical, adj.

seismography

1. the scientific measuring and recording of the shock and vibrations of earthquakes.
2. seismology.

seismology

the branch of geology that studies earthquakes and their effects. Also seismography. — seismologist, n. — seismologic, seismological, adj.

seismometer

a special seismograph equipped to measure the actual movement of the ground. — seismometry, n. — seismometric, adj.

teleseism

an earthquake that occurs in a part of the world far away from a recording station. — teleseismic, adj.

tromometer

an instrument for detecting or measuring very slight earth tremors.