microquakes
Minor seismic events
Microquakes are very small earthquakes, typically too faint to be felt by humans and detectable only with sensitive seismological instruments.
They register below 2.0 on the Richter scale and occur frequently in seismically active regions, often numbering in the thousands daily.
Scientists monitor microquakes to study fault behavior and sometimes to predict larger seismic events.
The term also applies to tiny tremors induced by human activity such as mining or hydraulic fracturing.
Slight shaking movements
- epicenterPoint above seismic origin
- magnitudeSize or scale
- aftershocksTremors following main earthquake
- seismographEarthquake measuring device
seismometer · foreshock · fault · tectonics · subduction · rupture · seismicity · lithosphere
Extremely small in size
- imperceptibleCannot be sensed
- subtleNot immediately obvious
- faintWeak and indistinct
- undetectableImpossible to notice
minor · small-scale · micro · tiny · localized · shallow · weak
Extracting earth's resources
- frackingExtracting gas via pressure
- drillingHole-making by rotation
- extractionAct of removing
- injectionSyringe-delivered dose
reservoir · geothermal · hydraulic · blasting · tunneling · subsidence · collapse · induced
tremors
Slight shaking movements
- epicenterPoint above seismic origin
- magnitudeSize or scale
- aftershocksTremors following main earthquake
seismograph · seismometer · foreshock · fault · tectonics · subduction · rupture · seismicity · lithosphere · crust
minuscule
Extremely small in size
- imperceptibleCannot be sensed
- subtleNot immediately obvious
- faintWeak and indistinct
undetectable · minor · small-scale · micro · tiny · localized · shallow · weak
mining
Extracting earth's resources
- frackingExtracting gas via pressure
- drillingHole-making by rotation
- extractionAct of removing
injection · reservoir · geothermal · hydraulic · blasting · tunneling · subsidence · collapse · induced · wastewater
tremor
Involuntary rhythmic shaking
- rumbleLow rolling sound
- shudderConvulsive trembling from fear
- oscillationRepeated back-and-forth movement
pulsation · jolt · hum · resonance · shaking · flutter · quiver · judder · undulation · ripple