Earthquakes reshape landscapes in seconds, triggering landslides, altering rivers, and shifting coastlines. These sudden changes kickstart a domino effect of geomorphic responses, influencing long-term landscape evolution and sediment dynamics.
Tectonic stress builds up along fault lines until it's suddenly released, causing earthquakes. This process occurs at plate boundaries and within plates, with each type of boundary producing characteristic earthquake patterns and landscape impacts.
Earthquake Generation Mechanisms
Tectonic Stress and Elastic Rebound
Top images from around the web for Tectonic Stress and Elastic Rebound
12.3 Fracturing and Faulting – Physical Geology View original
Is this image relevant?
11.4 The Impacts of Earthquakes | Physical Geology View original
Is this image relevant?
11.1 What Is an Earthquake? | Physical Geology View original
Is this image relevant?
12.3 Fracturing and Faulting – Physical Geology View original
Is this image relevant?
11.4 The Impacts of Earthquakes | Physical Geology View original
Is this image relevant?
1 of 3
Top images from around the web for Tectonic Stress and Elastic Rebound
12.3 Fracturing and Faulting – Physical Geology View original
Is this image relevant?
11.4 The Impacts of Earthquakes | Physical Geology View original
Is this image relevant?
11.1 What Is an Earthquake? | Physical Geology View original
Is this image relevant?
12.3 Fracturing and Faulting – Physical Geology View original
Is this image relevant?
11.4 The Impacts of Earthquakes | Physical Geology View original
Is this image relevant?
1 of 3
Earthquakes result from sudden release of accumulated stress along fault lines in Earth's crust generating seismic waves
Elastic rebound theory explains energy storage in rocks during elastic deformation under tectonic stress
Energy releases when rock strength exceeds causing sudden movement
Focal mechanism describes fault plane orientation and slip direction crucial for understanding tectonic forces
Earthquake magnitude scales quantify energy released (Richter, moment magnitude)