USGS Frequently Asked Questions
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Question:
Foreshocks, aftershocks - what's the difference?
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Answer: "Foreshock" and "aftershock" are relative terms. Foreshocks are earthquakes which precede larger earthquakes in the same location. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes which occur in the same general area during the days to years following a larger event or "mainshock", defined as within 1-2 fault lengths away and during the period of time before the background seismicity level has resumed. As a general rule, aftershocks represent minor readjustments along the portion of a fault that slipped at the time of the main shock. The frequency of these aftershocks decreases with time. Historically, deep earthquakes (>30km) are much less likely to be followed by aftershocks than shallow earthquakes. (Univ. of Washington).
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Source of this FAQ:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learning/faq.php
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U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey