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By definitiona an aftershock is always smaller than the larger earthquake that preceeded it. If an earthquake then occurs that is of larger magnitude and related to the prior seismic activity it is redesignated as the mainshock and all pre-recording quakes are re-designated as foreshocks.

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aftershock?

a small earthquake that follows the main earthquake


Can an aftershock of an earthquake be stronger than the earthquake itself?

Yes. However the preceding earthquakes (including the one that was originally the largest) are then downgraded or renamed as foreshocks and the new larger magnitude earthquake is termed the main shock.


What is smaller earthquake that follow a larger earthquake?

An earthquake is the movement of the tectonic plates, the little quake that happens after the main quake is called the aftershock.Aftershocks. If an aftershock is stronger than the original earthquake, it takes its place and trhe last earthquake becomes a pre-shock.


What is the difference between 5.9 and 6.0 earthquake?

The main difference is the magnitude of the earthquake - a 6.0 earthquake is stronger and can cause more damage than a 5.9 earthquake. Each whole number increase in magnitude represents approximately 32 times more energy release.


What is an earthquake's aftershock called?

An earthquake's aftershock is a smaller earthquake that occurs in the same area after the main shock. Aftershocks can happen days, weeks, or even months after the main earthquake, and they are caused by the readjustment of the Earth's crust following the initial seismic event.


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.


How many aftershocks were there following the major Haitian earthquake of January 2010 and what was their magnitude?

The US Geological survey report that (as of the 5th of February, 2010) there have been 59 aftershocks of magnitude 4.5 or greater. Sixteen of which had magnitudes of 5.0 or above. The two largest aftershocks had a magnitude of 6.0 and 5.9. The magnitude 6.0 aftershock occurred 7 minutes after the main earthquake on the 12th of January and the magnitude 5.9 aftershock occurred at 11:03 GMT on the 20th of January. Please see the related question.


What is the smaller shake called that follows the main earthquake?

The smaller shake that follows the main earthquake is called an aftershock. Aftershocks can occur minutes, hours, or even days after the initial earthquake and are caused by the adjustment of the Earth's crust to the stress changes generated by the main earthquake.


How many days after the Haitian earthquake did the aftershocks follow?

The two largest aftershocks from the Haitian earthquake had a magnitude of 6.0 and 5.9. The magnitude 6.0 aftershock occurred 7 minutes after the main earthquake on the 12th of January and the magnitude 5.9 aftershock occurred at 11:03 GMT on the 20th of January. Please see the related questions for more information.


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.


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.


How many aftershocks happened in the San Francisco earthquake 1906?

Over 10,000 aftershocks were recorded following the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. The largest aftershock occurred approximately 20 minutes after the main quake, measuring around magnitude 5.5.