Seismology

Seismology (Greek: seismós = earthquake, logos = theory) is the study of earthquakes in geophysics.

The field of seismology is not limited to researching purely geoscientific questions such as the origin of earthquakes or the structures of the earth's interior, but also has an important political dimension.

Seismographs (also called seismometers) are used to record seismic waves that either pass through the earth or propagate along the surface. Conclusions about the inner structure of the earth can be drawn from the propagation times and amplitudes of these waves. The seismic properties of an area are described by the seismicity.

The seismic measurement stations also register tremors caused by man-made events, such as nuclear weapon tests.