seism
Ground suddenly shaking
A seism is an earthquake or earth tremor.
The word is technical and rarely encountered outside scientific contexts, where *seismic* and *seismology* are far more common.
The seism registered 4.2 on the Richter scale.
Point above seismic origin
- aftershockSmaller quake following larger
- foreshockLesser quake before larger
- ruptureViolent tearing apart
- hypocenterEarthquake's underground origin point
fault · liquefaction · shockwave · collapse · disaster · destruction · casualties · evacuation
Physics of planetary structure
- tectonicsStudy of crustal deformation
- microseismMinute earth vibration
- geodesyEarth measurement science
- geoscienceStudy of Earth's systems
Imperfection or blame
- subductionPlate descending beneath another
- plateFlat dish for food
- lithosphereCrust plus upper mantle
- crustHard outer layer
mantle · rift · convergent · divergent · transform · boundary · collision · orogeny
Repeated back-and-forth movement
- tremorInvoluntary rhythmic shaking
- shakingRapid involuntary movement
- waveOscillating motion through medium
- pulsationRhythmic expansion and contraction
judder · undulation · resonance · quiver · jolt · shock · rumble · rattling
Seismological scale eponym
- magnitudeSize or scale
- amplitudeMaximum oscillation displacement
- intensityStrength or force level
- scaleMeasure of relative size
logarithmic · P-waves · S-waves · waveform · frequency · accelerometer · detection · monitoring
epicenter
Point above seismic origin
- aftershockSmaller quake following larger
- foreshockLesser quake before larger
- ruptureViolent tearing apart
hypocenter · fault · liquefaction · shockwave · collapse · disaster · destruction · casualties · evacuation · tremor
geophysics
Physics of planetary structure
- tectonicsStudy of crustal deformation
- microseismMinute earth vibration
- geodesyEarth measurement science
fault
Imperfection or blame
- subductionPlate descending beneath another
- plateFlat dish for food
- lithosphereCrust plus upper mantle
crust · mantle · rift · convergent · divergent · transform · boundary · collision · orogeny · trench
oscillation
Repeated back-and-forth movement
- tremorInvoluntary rhythmic shaking
- shakingRapid involuntary movement
- waveOscillating motion through medium
pulsation · judder · undulation · resonance · quiver · jolt · shock · rumble · rattling · shudder
Richter
Seismological scale eponym
scale · logarithmic · P-waves · S-waves · waveform · frequency · accelerometer · detection · monitoring · recording
seismstillness
Complete lack of motion
stability · quiescence · calm · inactivity · repose
- seismic activityUnderground geological movement
- seismic shiftsMajor disruptive changes
- seismic wavesEnergy from earth movements
- seismic zoneEarthquake-prone geographic area
- seismic eventsUnderground geological disturbances
- induced seismicityEarthquakes caused by humans
seismic, seismograph, seismology, seismologist, seismometer, seismicity, seismogram, seismologists, seismological