noun
- a very small earthquake with a magnitude typically below 3.0 that is usually not felt by people but can be detected by sensitive instruments
Usage: geological
Examples
- Scientists recorded dozens of microearthquakes near the fault line last month.
- The seismograph detected a microearthquake that residents didn’t even notice.
- Microearthquakes often occur before larger seismic events.
- The research team studied microearthquake patterns to predict volcanic activity.
- Most microearthquakes have magnitudes between 0 and 2 on the Richter scale.
- The mining operation triggered several microearthquakes in the surrounding area.