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Geology & Earth Sciences vocabulary · Earthquakes & Seismology

Aftershock

Meaning in geology & earth sciences, with examples

/ˈæftərʃɑːk/nounCore term

In geology & earth sciences, aftershock means: A smaller earthquake that follows a larger one in the same area as the crust adjusts after the main shock. Aftershocks can continue for months or years.

In Turkish: artçı deprem, artçı sarsıntı, artçı

How it is used

Used in news and seismology reports: strong aftershocks, an aftershock sequence, aftershocks were felt. Related words: mainshock (the largest event) and foreshock (a smaller earthquake before it). Damaged buildings may collapse in a strong aftershock.

Example sentences

  1. Hundreds of aftershocks were recorded in the first 24 hours.

  2. Engineers warned people not to enter damaged buildings because of the risk of aftershocks.

Common collocations

  • a strong aftershock
  • aftershock sequence
  • a series of aftershocks
  • aftershock activity
  • earthquakeA sudden shaking of the ground caused by rocks breaking and slipping along a fault, which releases energy as seismic waves.
  • magnitudeA number that describes the size of an earthquake at its source, based on the energy released. Each whole step on the scale means about 32 times more energy.
  • seismic hazardThe likelihood that a given place will experience earthquake shaking of a certain strength within a certain period of time.
  • epicenterThe point on the Earth's surface directly above the place underground where an earthquake starts.

More terms: Earthquakes & Seismology

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