A earthquake 

(also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is the shaking of the surface of the Earth

resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves.
Earthquakes can range in size from those that are so weak that they cannot be felt to those violent
enough to propel objects and people into the air, and wreak destruction across entire cities.
The seismicity, or seismic activity, of an area is the frequency, type, and size of earthquakes
experienced over a period of time. The word tremor is also used for non-earthquake seismic
rumbling.
At the Earth's surface, earthquakes manifest themselves by shaking and displacing or disrupting the
ground. When the epicenter of a large earthquake is located offshore, the seabed may be displaced
sufficiently to cause a tsunami. Earthquakes can also trigger landslides and, occasionally, volcanic
activity.
In its most general sense, the word earthquake is used to describe any seismic event—whether
natural or caused by humans—that generates seismic waves. Earthquakes are caused mostly by
rupture of geological faults but also by other events such as volcanic activity, landslides, mine blasts,
and nuclear tests. An earthquake's point of initial rupture is called its hypocenter or focus.
The epicenter is the point at ground level directly above the hypocenter.
n earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is the shaking of the surface of the Earth
resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves.
Earthquakes can range in size from those that are so weak that they cannot be felt to those violent
enough to propel objects and people into the air, and wreak destruction across entire cities.
The seismicity, or seismic activity, of an area is the frequency, type, and size of earthquakes
experienced over a period of time. The word tremor is also used for non-earthquake seismic
rumbling.
At the Earth's surface, earthquakes manifest themselves by shaking and displacing or disrupting the
ground. When the epicenter of a large earthquake is located offshore, the seabed may be displaced
sufficiently to cause a tsunami. Earthquakes can also trigger landslides and, occasionally, volcanic
activity.
In its most general sense, the word earthquake is used to describe any seismic event—whether
natural or caused by humans—that generates seismic waves. Earthquakes are caused mostly by
rupture of geological faults but also by other events such as volcanic activity, landslides, mine blasts,
and nuclear tests. An earthquake's point of initial rupture is called its hypocenter or focus.
The epicenter is the point at ground level directly above the hypocenter.
An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is the shaking of the surface of the
Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic
waves. Earthquakes can range in size from those that are so weak that they cannot be felt to those
violent enough to propel objects and people into the air, and wreak destruction across entire cities.
The seismicity, or seismic activity, of an area is the frequency, type, and size of earthquakes
experienced over a period of time. The word tremor is also used for non-earthquake seismic
rumbling.
At the Earth's surface, earthquakes manifest themselves by shaking and displacing or disrupting the
ground. When the epicenter of a large earthquake is located offshore, the seabed may be displaced
sufficiently to cause a tsunami. Earthquakes can also trigger landslides and, occasionally, volcanic
activity.
In its most general sense, the word earthquake is used to describe any seismic event—whether
natural or caused by humans—that generates seismic waves. Earthquakes are caused mostly by
rupture of geological faults but also by other events such as volcanic activity, landslides, mine blasts,
and nuclear tests. An earthquake's point of initial rupture is called its hypocenter or focus.
The epicenter is the point at ground level directly above the hypocenter.
 Contents

 1Naturally occurring earthquakes

o 1.1Earthquake fault types
o 1.2Earthquakes away from plate boundaries
o 1.3Shallow-focus and deep-focus earthquakes
o 1.4Earthquakes and volcanic activity
o 1.5Rupture dynamics
 1.5.1Co-seismic overpressuring and effect of pore pressure
o 1.6Tidal forces
o 1.7Earthquake clusters
 1.7.1Aftershocks
 1.7.2Earthquake swarms
 2Intensity of earth quaking and magnitude of earthquakes
 3Frequency of occurrence
 4Induced seismicity
 5Measuring and locating earthquakes
 6Effects of earthquakes
o 6.1Shaking and ground rupture
o 6.2Soil liquefaction
o 6.3Human impacts
o 6.4Landslides
o 6.5Fires
o 6.6Tsunami
o 6.7Floods
 7Major earthquakes
 8Prediction
 9Forecasting
 10Preparedness
 11Historical views
 12Recent studies
 13In culture
o 13.1Mythology and religion
o 13.2In popular culture
 14See also
 15References
 16Sources
 17External link