Which natural disaster is caused by the sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere producing seismic waves?

Which natural disaster is caused by the sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere producing seismic waves?

• A. Earthquake
• B. Tsunami
• C. Hurricane
• D. Volcanic eruption

Answer: (A)

When rocks in the Earth's lithosphere rupture and slip suddenly, they release stored elastic energy as vibrations called seismic waves. These waves travel through the Earth and cause ground shaking, which is what we feel as an earthquake. The key point is this rapid energy release in the solid exterior of the Earth that produces seismic waves. Other events involve different processes: tsunamis are usually driven by water displacement often linked to an undersea earthquake but the defining moment here is the energy release in rocks; hurricanes are atmospheric storms; volcanic eruptions involve magma and gases erupting at the surface.

When rocks in the Earth's lithosphere rupture and slip suddenly, they release stored elastic energy as vibrations called seismic waves. These waves travel through the Earth and cause ground shaking, which is what we feel as an earthquake. The key point is this rapid energy release in the solid exterior of the Earth that produces seismic waves.

Other events involve different processes: tsunamis are usually driven by water displacement often linked to an undersea earthquake but the defining moment here is the energy release in rocks; hurricanes are atmospheric storms; volcanic eruptions involve magma and gases erupting at the surface.