Overview
Earthquakes are the sudden, violent shaking of the Earth's surface, caused by the release of stored energy in the lithosphere that generates seismic waves. These seismic events, ranging from imperceptible tremors to catastrophic ground-shattering episodes, can devastate infrastructure and alter geography. The study of earthquakes, seismology, seeks to understand their causes, predict their occurrences, and mitigate their impact. While primarily natural phenomena stemming from tectonic plate movement, human activities like fracking and nuclear weapons testing can also induce seismic activity. The point of origin for an earthquake is the hypocenter, with the epicenter marking the spot directly above it on the surface.