sudden release of energy in Earth's lithosphere producing seismic waves
caused by movement along faults at plate tectonics boundaries
measured by magnitude (Richter/moment magnitude scale) and intensity (Modified Mercalli)
P-waves (compressional) and S-waves (shear) propagate through Earth's interior
surface waves (Love, Rayleigh) cause the most structural damage
seismology reveals Earth's internal structure: crust, mantle, outer core, inner core
major fault zones: San Andreas, Alpine-Himalayan belt, Ring of Fire
tsunamis generated by submarine earthquakes propagate across entire ocean basins
secondary hazards: landslides, liquefaction, fires, infrastructure collapse
earthquake prediction remains unsolved; probabilistic forecasting guides engineering
seismic data informs plate tectonics models and magnetic field studies