mainshock
The big tremor
A mainshock is the largest earthquake in a sequence of seismic events at a particular location.
Smaller earthquakes preceding it are foreshocks; those following are aftershocks.
The term distinguishes the principal rupture from related tremors: The mainshock registered 7.1, with dozens of aftershocks in the following days.
Point above seismic origin
- magnitudeSize or scale
- ruptureViolent tearing apart
- faultImperfection or blame
- hypocenterEarthquake's underground origin point
seismogram · seismograph · P-wave · S-wave · waveform · seismicity · Richter · intensity
Imperfection or blame
- ruptureViolent tearing apart
- tectonicsStudy of crustal deformation
- subductionPlate descending beneath another
- lithosphereCrust plus upper mantle
crust · slip · displacement · stress · strain · fracture · plate boundary · thrust
Harm or impairment
- collapseSudden structural failure
- destructionAct of completely ruining
- casualtiesThose killed or wounded
- infrastructureBasic physical systems
debris · buildings · bridges · liquefaction · landslide · structural damage · power outage · fires
Save from harm
- evacuationRemoval from danger
- emergencySerious sudden danger
- reliefEasing of distress
- survivorsThose still alive after
shelter · aid · humanitarian · recovery · search and rescue · first responders · disaster response · warning systems
epicenter
Point above seismic origin
hypocenter · seismogram · seismograph · P-wave · S-wave · waveform · seismicity · Richter · intensity · focus
fault
Imperfection or blame
- ruptureViolent tearing apart
- tectonicsStudy of crustal deformation
- subductionPlate descending beneath another
lithosphere · crust · slip · displacement · stress · strain · fracture · plate boundary · thrust · strike-slip
damage
Harm or impairment
- collapseSudden structural failure
- destructionAct of completely ruining
- casualtiesThose killed or wounded
infrastructure · debris · buildings · bridges · liquefaction · landslide · structural damage · power outage · fires · devastation
rescue
Save from harm
- evacuationRemoval from danger
- emergencySerious sudden danger
- reliefEasing of distress
survivors · shelter · aid · humanitarian · recovery · search and rescue · first responders · disaster response · warning systems · preparedness
mainshockaftershock
Smaller quake following larger
foreshock · aftershocks · foreshocks · tremor · microseism
main, mains, mainly, mainland, mainlands, mainstream, mainstreams, mainstreamed, mainstreaming