aftershock

Quake's smaller echo

An aftershock is a smaller earthquake that follows a larger one, occurring as the earth's crust adjusts after the main seismic event: Aftershocks continued for weeks after the initial quake.

Figuratively, aftershocks are the secondary effects or repercussions of any disruptive event: The political aftershocks of the scandal were still being felt months later.

seismic

mainshock

Largest earthquake in sequence

magnitudeSize or scale
epicenterPoint above seismic origin
faultlineCrustal fracture zone

seismograph · tectonics · shaking · rupture · liquefaction · tsunami · intensity · P-waves · S-waves · subduction

reverberation

ripple

Minor surface disturbance

echoReflected sound wave
resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
waveOscillating motion through medium

vibration · impact · repercussion · consequence · fallout · lingering · residual · secondary · delayed · cascade

aftermath

recovery

Regaining what was lost

rebuildingConstructing anew after destruction
traumaLasting psychological wound
displacementRemoval from usual location

relief · aid · survivors · damage · devastation · crisis · humanitarian · reconstruction · resilience · infrastructure

Categories

earthquakesquake, earthquakes, quakes, epicenter, magnitude
after-afternoon, aftermath, afterward, afterthought, afterglow
Indirect Effectssecondhand smoke, passive smoking, collateral damage, ripple effect, spillover
shocksanaphylaxis, electroshock
earthquake engineeringliquefaction, dampers, ductility, cross bracing, hold-downs
phenomenanorthern lights, eclipse, solar eclipse, volcanic eruption, tsunami

Opposites

seismic sequence position

aftershockmainshock

Largest earthquake in sequence

foreshock · precursor

causal primacy

aftershockmain event

Featured performance or contest

primary cause · trigger · catalyst · source · origin

Family

Familiarity: Top 100,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated G