These have been called “silent earthquakes,” which have a deep tremor and slow slip. Collectively, they move enough to slightly change the surface of the earth near them. The tiny epicenters pop as that plate slides. They will last for weeks until the event is over.

Active faulting is considered to be a geologic hazard – one related to earthquakes as a cause. Effects of movement on an active fault include strong ground motion, surface faulting, tectonic deformation, landslides and rockfalls, liquefaction, tsunamis, and seiches.

Slow slip events (SSEs) are long lived shear slip events at subduction interfaces and the physical processes responsible for the generation of slow earthquakes. They are slow thrust-sense displacement episodes that can have durations up to several weeks, and are thus termed “slow”.

60 km

Some changes are fast and immediately observable, such as earthquakes, volcanoes, flooding, and landslides. Other changes are slower and occur over a longer period of time, such as weathering and erosion. These gradual processes shape landforms with water, ice, wind, living organisms, and gravity.

Earthquake Damage, Danger & Destruction. The destructive effects of earthquakes are from landslides, tsunamis, fires, and fault rupture. The violent shaking of the ground produces the greatest property losses and personal injuries.

Earthquakes usually occur on the edges of large sections of the Earth’s crust called tectonic plates. These plates slowly move over a long period of time. Pressure slowly starts to build up where the edges are stuck and, once the pressure gets strong enough, the plates will suddenly move causing an earthquake.