is a small earthquake that often precedes a major earthquake
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.
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.
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.
No, they can't tell that it is a foreshock until a larger earthquake happens. (The largest main earthquake is called the mainshock)
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.
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.
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"
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.
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.
According to SOWPODS (the combination of Scrabble dictionaries used around the world) there are 4 words with the pattern F----H--K. That is, nine letter words with 1st letter F and 6th letter H and 9th letter K. In alphabetical order, they are: forecheck foreshank foreshock forethink
According to SOWPODS (the combination of Scrabble dictionaries used around the world) there are 6 words with the pattern FO-E---C-. That is, nine letter words with 1st letter F and 2nd letter O and 4th letter E and 8th letter C. In alphabetical order, they are: forecheck forensics forereach foreshock foreslack foreteach
According to SOWPODS (the combination of Scrabble dictionaries used around the world) there are 15 words with the pattern F------CK. That is, nine letter words with 1st letter F and 8th letter C and 9th letter K. In alphabetical order, they are: feedstock fightback firebrick firetruck fishyback flagstick flaptrack flareback flashback flintlock footstock forecheck foreshock foreslack forswonck