Glossary

Aftershocks- Smaller earthquakes of lesser intensity that often follow the principal
tremor

Body waves- Body waves comprising the P and S waves are seismic waves that are able
to travel through the interior of the earth.

Creep- this refers to a fault displacement without any significant earthquake activity.

Earthquake- These are natural tectonic events characterised by violent shaking caused
by sudden and rapid movement of a large section of earth’s crust

Epicentre- The point on the Earth’s surface which is directly above the focus is called
the epicentre.

Fault- These are fractures or cracks along which one side of the rock block moves
relative to the other.

Focus- the point on a fault at which the first movement or break occurs during an
earthquake is the earthquake’s focus or hypocentre.

Magnitude-magnitude is a measure of the amount of energy released during an

earthquake. It is a quantitative measurement obtained from various seismic records.

Intensity-this is a measure of the degree of earthquake shaking at a given place based on

observed effects.

Seismograph- seismographs are instruments that record earthquake waves.

Tsunami- tsunami is a giant sea wave set into motion by displacement of the sea floor
along a fault or an earthquake on the ocean floor

P waves- These are compressional seismic waves that alternatively compress and expand.
These can propagate through solids, liquids and gases.

S waves- S waves are shear waves involving side to side motion. These can propagate
through solids only.
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