Icequake

Ice´quake`

(īs´kwāk`)

The crash or concussion attending the breaking up of masses of ice, - often due to contraction from extreme cold.

References in periodicals archive ?

Scientists knew that seismic activity increases five days before a break-off, but by combining the motion of the glacier with the icequake activity, the new model can detect a rupture 15 days in advance.

Icequakes warn of avalanche risk: listening to ice allows early forecast of glacier crack-ups

Instead, the researchers note in an upcoming Journal of Geophysical Research (Earth Surface), it was the duration of an icequake that correlated with the amount of ice shed during the event.

Using seismometers to monitor glaciers

As explained by Science Daily, lead author Zhigang Peng, an associate professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, said "We interpret these events as small icequakes, most of which were triggered during or immediately after the passing of long-period Rayleigh waves generated from the Chilean main shock.