Liquefaction
Definition
A phenomenon where saturated, loose soil temporarily loses strength and behaves like a liquid during strong shaking. Can cause buildings to sink, tilt, or collapse into the ground.
Example
Liquefaction in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake caused entire neighborhoods to sink.
Related Terms
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Related Case Studies
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The earthquake that defied three textbook rules: strike-slip faults generated a destructive tsunami, the rupture propagated at supershear speed, and liquefaction flows traveled 700 meters on nearly flat ground.
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The 2011 Christchurch Earthquake: How a M6.2 Aftershock Destroyed a City Center
One of the few cases where an aftershock was more devastating than its mainshock, with a M6.2 at just 5 km depth producing 2.2g ground acceleration that obliterated Christchurch's city center.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The epicenter is the point on the Earth's surface directly above the hypocenter (focus) where the earthquake rupture begins. It is typically reported as latitude and longitude coordinates. The strongest shaking usually occurs near the epicenter, though local soil conditions and fault geometry can shift the zone of maximum damage.
A seismograph (or seismometer) is an instrument that detects and records ground motion caused by seismic waves. Modern broadband seismometers can detect movements smaller than the width of an atom. Networks of seismographs around the world enable scientists to locate earthquakes and determine their magnitude within minutes.
P-waves (primary waves) are compressional waves that travel fastest through rock, arriving first at seismic stations. S-waves (secondary waves) are shear waves that arrive later but cause more ground shaking. P-waves travel through solids, liquids, and gases; S-waves only travel through solids. The time difference between them helps determine earthquake distance.
The hypocenter (or focus) is the point within the Earth where an earthquake rupture initiates. It is described by latitude, longitude, and depth. The vertical distance between the hypocenter and the surface directly above is the earthquake's depth, which strongly influences how the earthquake is felt at the surface.
Seismology is the scientific study of earthquakes and the propagation of seismic waves through the Earth. It encompasses earthquake detection, location, and characterization; Earth's internal structure; seismic hazard assessment; and earthquake engineering. Seismologists use data from global seismograph networks to study these phenomena.