Seismology

Seismology is the study of earthquakes and related phenomena. When an earthquake occurs, either from large-scale plate tectonic processes or by stresses within the Earth’s crust, energy is released in the form of seismic waves. Seismic waves travel through rock, causing vibrations that can be measured on devices called seismometers. Networks of these sensors collect data on the duration and intensity of shaking associated with a single earthquake. Seismologists are the scientists who extract information from these seismic waves for many purposes: to develop an understanding of what is happening below the Earth’s surface, within the crust, or all the way to the deep interior of our planet.