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Analyzing EQ data
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Body wave | An earthquake wave that travels through the body of Earth rather than on its surface |
| surface wave | An earthquake wave that travels at or near the surface of earth |
| p-wave | a primary earthquake wave that travels through the body of earth; so named because it is the first wave to reach a seismograph station during an earthquake. |
| s-wave | A secondary earthquake wave, so named because it travels slower than a primary wave and is the second wave to reach the seismograph station after an earthquake. it travels through the body of Earth as a series of crests and troughs |
| aftershock | An earthquake that occurs later along the same fault zone as a major earthquake, but before the area has returned to its normal level of seismic activity |
| epicenter | location on earth's surface directly above an earthquake's focus, or origin |
| focus | location beneath earth's surface where the energy of an earthquake is released |