We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Science

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Are Seismic Events?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: May 21, 2024
Views: 38,966
Share

Seismic events are occurrences in which energy is briefly released in the Earth's crust, resulting in a series of seismic waves which move through the crust. In some cases, the energy can be intense enough that it is felt in the form of an earthquake, while in other seismic events, the energy is so mild that it can only be identified with specialized equipment. Seismic events are of immense interest to researchers known as seismologists, and monitoring stations used to track seismic activity can be found in many regions of the world.

A number of different things can cause these events. Some are induced by human activities such as setting off explosives or running heavy machinery. Others are caused by geological activity such as the shifting of the Earth's plates, movement along a fault, or volcanic activity. It is difficult to predict seismic events, but information about such events can be used in the study of geology, and in the tracking of long term trends.

Sometimes, a series of minor seismic events precedes a major event. This forewarning can be used to plan ahead. For example, if scientists are tracking a volcano and they notice an uptick in seismic activity, they can evacuate people in case the volcano is about to erupt. A major event in the ocean can also be an indicator of a emergency situation in the form of a tsunami, which is one reason why scientists track these events even in areas where people are not likely to be present.

Seismic monitors, known as seismometers, use very delicate and sensitive equipment to log movement in the Earth's crust. This information can be used to track the movement of seismic waves, to identify different kinds of seismic waves, and to see where seismic activity originated. Many of these devices are automated, reporting to a central monitoring station which people use to aggregate data to reveal important trends.

Research on seismic events is important for human safety and economic reasons. By planning ahead, people can mitigate some of the severity associated with a major event. For example, people and important objects can be evacuated so that they are not damaged. Structures in areas where seismic activity is common can also be designed and retrofitted so that they will be more likely to withstand a seismic event, using information from engineers and areas where people have developed earthquake-resistant structures.

Share
All The Science is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a All The Science researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Discussion Comments
By anon160199 — On Mar 15, 2011

Does this mean that Japan doesn't have seismologists who could predict the Earthquake so as to save their own people since it's because of the the government setting up explosive/nuclear plants all this had to happen.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.allthescience.org/what-are-seismic-events.htm
Copy this link
All The Science, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

All The Science, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.