earthquake
Tectonic plates shifting
An earthquake is a sudden, violent shaking of the ground caused by movement of rock beneath the earth's surface.
Earthquakes range from imperceptible tremors to catastrophic events that destroy cities.
The scale of destruction depends on magnitude, depth, and proximity to populated areas.
The earthquake leveled most of the downtown.
Figuratively, an earthquake is any event that fundamentally disrupts the status quo: a political earthquake.
Broken building fragments
- collapseSudden structural failure
- damageHarm or impairment
- wreckageDestroyed remains of something
- debrisScattered broken fragments
pancaking · structural failure · cracks · fissures · landslide · liquefaction · sinkhole · tsunami
Involuntary rhythmic shaking
- foreshockLesser quake before larger
- vibrationRapid oscillating movement
- shockwavePropagating pressure disturbance
- joltAbrupt forceful shake
rumble · oscillation · sway · rocking · juddering · rolling · temblor · shudder
Earthquake measuring device
- magnitudeSize or scale
- epicenterPoint above seismic origin
- seismometerDetects ground vibrations
- seismologistEarth tremor scientist
P-wave · S-wave · seismogram · hypocenter · intensity · focus · seismicity · geophone
Violent disturbance of order
- shake-upSudden structural overhaul
- disruptionForceful interruption of process
- shiftMovement or work period
- turmoilViolent disturbance or confusion
groundbreaking · seismic shift · tremors · aftershocks · fault lines · epicenter
Imperfection or blame
- plateFlat dish for food
- subductionPlate descending beneath another
- lithosphereCrust plus upper mantle
- faultlineCrustal fracture zone
plate boundary · tectonic · strike-slip · convergent · divergent · transform · mantle · Pacific Ring of Fire
Removal from danger
- search-and-rescueLocating and retrieving imperiled persons
- shelterProtected place or structure
- survivorsThose still alive after
- reliefEasing of distress
triage · displaced · volunteers · Red Cross · donations · temporary housing · early warning system · preparedness
Those killed or wounded
- fatalitiesLosses of life
- devastationSevere widespread destruction
- tragedyDisastrous or sorrowful event
- calamitySevere misfortune or disaster
destruction · death toll · injured · homeless · loss · suffering · humanitarian crisis · rebuilding
rubble
Broken building fragments
debris · pancaking · structural failure · cracks · fissures · landslide · liquefaction · sinkhole · tsunami · fires
tremor
Involuntary rhythmic shaking
- foreshockLesser quake before larger
- vibrationRapid oscillating movement
- shockwavePropagating pressure disturbance
jolt · rumble · oscillation · sway · rocking · juddering · rolling · temblor · shudder
seismograph
Earthquake measuring device
- magnitudeSize or scale
- epicenterPoint above seismic origin
- seismometerDetects ground vibrations
seismologist · P-wave · S-wave · seismogram · hypocenter · intensity · focus · seismicity · geophone · microseism
upheaval
Violent disturbance of order
- shake-upSudden structural overhaul
- disruptionForceful interruption of process
- shiftMovement or work period
turmoil · groundbreaking · seismic shift · tremors · aftershocks · fault lines · epicenter
fault
Imperfection or blame
- plateFlat dish for food
- subductionPlate descending beneath another
- lithosphereCrust plus upper mantle
faultline · plate boundary · tectonic · strike-slip · convergent · divergent · transform · mantle · Pacific Ring of Fire
evacuation
Removal from danger
- search-and-rescueLocating and retrieving imperiled persons
- shelterProtected place or structure
- survivorsThose still alive after
relief · triage · displaced · volunteers · Red Cross · donations · temporary housing · early warning system · preparedness · drill
casualties
Those killed or wounded
- fatalitiesLosses of life
- devastationSevere widespread destruction
- tragedyDisastrous or sorrowful event
calamity · destruction · death toll · injured · homeless · loss · suffering · humanitarian crisis · rebuilding · recovery
- compound wordsbookmark, breakdown, sunlight, breakup, snowflake
- Earthglobe, continent, axis, ocean, poles
- eventsevent, events, party, parties, wedding
- natural phenomenaaurora, northern lights, southern lights, eclipse, solar eclipse
- phenomenanorthern lights, eclipse, solar eclipse, volcanic eruption, tsunami
- AlaskaFairbanks, Juneau, Denali, Sitka, Kodiak
earthquakecalm
Free from agitation
stillness · stability · tranquility · peace · steadiness
earthquakestatus quo
Existing condition of affairs
continuity · normalcy · stability · stagnation · business as usual
- earthquake zoneRegion of frequent tremors
- earthquake drillPreparedness exercise for temblors
- earthquake recoveryRestoration after ground shaking
- earthquake damageHarm from ground shaking
- earthquake riskLikelihood of ground tremors
- earthquake reliefAssistance following tectonic disaster