seismic activity
11
3.7
- noun
- /ˈsaɪzmɪk ækˈtɪvɪti/
- Specialized
:
actividad sísmica
- The seismic activity seems to be increasing exponentially.
So in broad sense, the increased seismic activity in these regions is related to oil field activity or gas activity.
- So in broad sense, the increased seismic activity in these regions is related to oil field activity or gas activity.
Examples
-
But every week we learn about new risks: seismic activity, high radon levels, and ground-level ozone, for example.
Blog text (30) -
Countless rifts in the ground, some over two feet across, indicated considerable seismic activity in the valley.
Fiction book (1991) -
How did you know that? - Because it's a map of seismic activity.
-
Any evidence of seismic activity?
Fiction book (2001) -
The seismic activity is going off the chart.
-
Seismic activity is a part of life in California.
Academic text (2000) -
In recent years, though, researchers have been making trips to study the area's extraordinary seismic activity.
Academic text (2011) -
A magnitude-8.6 earthquake on April 11, 2012, set in motion an unprecedented increase in global seismic activity, a study shows.
Blog text (21) -
The greatest increase in seismic activity after the Landers quake occurred, of course, within 100 km of the initial rupture.
Academic text (1993) -
The island nation sits near four tectonic plates and experiences more seismic activity than any other country in the world.
Synonyms
1
6.1
A sudden shaking of the ground often caused by an earthquake or volcano
1
8.0
How often and how strong earthquakes are in an area
1
4.9
Movement of large parts of the Earth's outer layer that makes earthquakes or mountains
Movement of the Earth's top rock layer that changes the land and causes earthquakes
How Strong
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is fully compositional: 'seismic' means related to earthquakes or earth vibrations and 'activity' denotes motion or degree of movement, so together they straightforwardly refer to earth movements or earthquake-related motion. This follows a regular adjective + noun composition found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Seismic activity The noun seismic activity comes from seismic (about 'shaking') and activity (meaning 'movement'), so it paints the simple image of the ground moving or trembling. Today scientists use the phrase when instruments or signs show those shakes, so it means the ground's movements that cause earthquakes or small shakes.