answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

NOUN:

: A minor tremor of the earth that precedes a larger earthquake originating at approximately the same location. NOUN:

: A minor tremor of the earth that precedes a larger earthquake originating at approximately the same location.

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: What is the foreshock of an earthquake?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Earth Science

Does a small earthquake mean that a larer earthquake is coming?

Most small earthquakes are just background seismicity. There is no way to tell whether a small event will be followed by a larger one. But if there is a larger earthquake afterwards, the first earthquake is called a "foreshock"


How strong was the San francisco earthquake of 1906?

On April 18, 1906, At almost precisely 5:12 a.m., local time, a foreshock occurred with sufficient force to be felt widely throughout the San Francisco Bay area. The great earthquake broke loose some 20 to 25 seconds later, with an epicenter near San Francisco. Violent shocks punctuated the strong shaking which lasted some 45 to 60 seconds. The earthquake was felt from southern Oregon to south of Los Angeles and inland as far as central Nevada. Rupturing the northernmost 296 miles (477 kilometers) of the San Andreas fault from northwest of San Juan Bautista to the triple junction at Cape Mendocino, the earthquake confounded contemporary geologists with its large, horizontal displacements and great rupture length.The main shock of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 lasted for approximately 45- 60 seconds.


What causes an earthguake?

What is an earthquake?An earthquake is what happens when two blocks of the earth suddenly slip past one another. The surface where they slip is called the fault or fault plane. The location below the earth's surface where the earthquake starts is called the hypocenter, and the location directly above it on the surface of the earth is called the epicenter. Sometimes an earthquake has foreshocks. These are smaller earthquakes that happen in the same place as the larger earthquake that follows. Scientists can't tell that an earthquake is a foreshock until the larger earthquake happens. The largest, main earthquake is called the mainshock. Mainshocks always have aftershocks that follow. These are smaller earthquakes that occur afterwards in the same place as the mainshock. Depending on the size of the mainshock, aftershocks can continue for weeks, months, and even years after the mainshock!


Where was there an earthquake today?

Japan had Tsunami and an Earthquake Kansas had an earthquake


Why is a earthquake called a earthquake?

When an earthquake happens the earth quakes, it shakes.

Related questions

foreshock?

is a small earthquake that often precedes a major earthquake


Compare and contrast aftershocks and foreshocks?

An aftershock is a small earthquake that follows the main earthquake, while a foreshock is a small earthquake that often precedes, leads to, a major earthquake.


Explain the differences among foreshock mainshock and aftershock?

The mainshock is the largest earthquake in a sequence. A foreshock is a smaller earthquake that precedes the mainshock, and an aftershock is a smaller earthquake that occurs after the mainshock.


How can you tell an earthquake is gonna happen?

No, they can't tell that it is a foreshock until a larger earthquake happens. (The largest main earthquake is called the mainshock)


Does a small earthquake mean that a larer earthquake is coming?

Most small earthquakes are just background seismicity. There is no way to tell whether a small event will be followed by a larger one. But if there is a larger earthquake afterwards, the first earthquake is called a "foreshock"


What do you call the little earthquakes that come before a big earthquake?

Foreshock is what you call one of the little earthquakes that come before the big earthquake or main shock. The main shock may be followed by a little earthquake that's called the aftershock.


Why do afterschocks occur?

I'm assuming you know how earthquakes occur and all an aftershock is a smaller earthquake after a larger one. If the "aftershock" is larger than the main shock it is reclassified as the main shock and the previous "main shock" becomes a foreshock.


Why do foreshocks occur?

Foreshock activity has been detected for about 40 % of all moderate to large earthquakes, and up to 70% for magnitude events >7.0. In one model of earthquake rupture, the process forms as a cascade of foreshocks, starting with a very small event that triggers a larger one, continuing until the main shock rupture is triggered.


How long after an earthquake is the phenomenon of additional quakes considered an aftershock?

Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes that occur after a larger event (the mainshock) in the same area. If an even larger earthquake occurs, then the original mainshock becomes a foreshock and the bigger event becomes the mainshock.


Were there any warning signs before the earthquake that struck Japan on March 11 2011?

On Thursday, March 10, 2011 there was a series of at least 24 earthquakes ranging from magnitude 4.4 to 6.4 in the region of Japan. These foreshocks were the precursor to the main event -- a 9.0 earthquake on March 11, 2011. Foreshock activity has been detected for about 40 % of all moderate to large earthquakes, and up to 70% for magnitude events >7.0.


How strong was the San francisco earthquake of 1906?

On April 18, 1906, At almost precisely 5:12 a.m., local time, a foreshock occurred with sufficient force to be felt widely throughout the San Francisco Bay area. The great earthquake broke loose some 20 to 25 seconds later, with an epicenter near San Francisco. Violent shocks punctuated the strong shaking which lasted some 45 to 60 seconds. The earthquake was felt from southern Oregon to south of Los Angeles and inland as far as central Nevada. Rupturing the northernmost 296 miles (477 kilometers) of the San Andreas fault from northwest of San Juan Bautista to the triple junction at Cape Mendocino, the earthquake confounded contemporary geologists with its large, horizontal displacements and great rupture length.The main shock of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 lasted for approximately 45- 60 seconds.


When does an aftershock happen?

In any series of earthquakes in the same area, the one with the largest magnitude is called the mainshock. Anything before this is called a foreshock and anything after is called an aftershock.