seismic
Caused by tremors
Seismic describes things related to earthquakes or the vibrations that move through the earth: seismic activity, seismic waves, a seismic shift in the tectonic plates.
The figurative sense—sudden, dramatic upheaval—has become equally common: a seismic change in public opinion, seismic implications for the industry.
Both uses emphasize powerful forces that shake foundations.
Involuntary rhythmic shaking
- aftershockSmaller quake following larger
- epicenterPoint above seismic origin
- magnitudeSize or scale
- faultImperfection or blame
quake · rupture · liquefaction · tsunami · foreshock · disaster · collapse · evacuation
Study of crustal deformation
- subductionPlate descending beneath another
- faultImperfection or blame
- crustHard outer layer
- mantleCovering or wrap
lithosphere · rift · plate · geophysics · orogeny · strata · isostasy · fissure
Movement or work period
- changeTo make different
- upheavalViolent disturbance of order
- transformationThorough change in form
- impactForceful contact or consequence
disruption · shockwave · repercussions · tremors · aftershocks · magnitude · fault lines · epicenter
Oscillations at interface boundaries
- body wavesSeismic energy within earth
- amplitudeMaximum oscillation displacement
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- oscillationRepeated back-and-forth movement
wavefront · propagation · velocity · attenuation · reflection · refraction · arrival · detection
tremor
Involuntary rhythmic shaking
- aftershockSmaller quake following larger
- epicenterPoint above seismic origin
- magnitudeSize or scale
fault · quake · rupture · liquefaction · tsunami · foreshock · disaster · collapse · evacuation · rescue
tectonics
Study of crustal deformation
- subductionPlate descending beneath another
- faultImperfection or blame
- crustHard outer layer
mantle · lithosphere · rift · plate · geophysics · orogeny · strata · isostasy · fissure · convergence
shift
Movement or work period
- changeTo make different
- upheavalViolent disturbance of order
- transformationThorough change in form
impact · disruption · shockwave · repercussions · tremors · aftershocks · magnitude · fault lines · epicenter · groundbreaking
surface waves
Oscillations at interface boundaries
- body wavesSeismic energy within earth
- amplitudeMaximum oscillation displacement
- frequencyRate of recurrence
oscillation · wavefront · propagation · velocity · attenuation · reflection · refraction · arrival · detection · energy
- Earthearth, Earth, globe, continent, axis
- petroleumcrude oil, crude, petroleum, oil wells, oil fields
- place adjectivescoastal, suburban, urban, rural, northern
- Elemental Qualitiesairy, earthy, fiery, watery, icy
- geologicaligneous, metamorphic, sedimentary, volcanic, tectonic
- oil industrypetroleum, oil fields, oil well, oil rig, oil production
seismicnegligible
Too small to consider
trivial · inconsequential · insignificant · minor · gradual
seismicethereal
Delicate beyond earthly measure
vaporous · insubstantial · weightless · airy · gossamer
- 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
seismograph, seismology, seismologist, seismometer, seismicity, seismically, seismographs, seismogram, seismologists