Earthquake vs. Landslide — What's the Difference?

Results in ground shaking that can damage structures and lead to loss of life.

Can result in significant property damage and pose a risk to life.

Can lead to other natural disasters.

May block rivers, leading to flooding.

A natural event caused by the shifting of tectonic plates beneath the Earth's surface.

Often caused by saturation of the soil from rainfall or seismic activity.

Can occur along fault lines where plates meet.

Mitigation includes drainage control and slope stabilization.

Measured in magnitude on the Richter scale.

The downward movement of rock, earth, and debris on a slope.

An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in size from those that are so weak that they cannot be felt to those violent enough to propel objects and people into the air, and wreak destruction across entire cities.

The term landslide or, less frequently, landslip, refers to several forms of mass wasting that may include a wide range of ground movements, such as rockfalls, deep-seated slope failures, mudflows, and debris flows. Landslides occur in a variety of environments, characterized by either steep or gentle slope gradients, from mountain ranges to coastal cliffs or even underwater, in which case they are called submarine landslides.

A sudden movement of the earth's crust caused by the release of stress accumulated along geologic faults or by volcanic activity. Also called seism, temblor.

The downward sliding of a relatively dry mass of earth and rock.

A shaking of the ground, caused by volcanic activity or movement around geologic faults.

The mass that slides. Also called landslip.

(planetary geology) Such a quake specifically occurring on the planet Earth, as opposed to other celestial bodies.

A percentage of votes greatly exceeding the required margin of victory.

(figuratively) A sudden and intense upheaval; a severely disruptive event.

An election that sweeps a party or candidate into office.

(intransitive) To undergo an earthquake.

A great victory.

A shaking, trembling, or concussion of the earth, due to subterranean causes, often accompanied by a rumbling noise. The wave of shock sometimes traverses half a hemisphere, destroying cities and many thousand lives; - called also earthdin, earthquave, and earthshock.

A natural disaster that involves the breakup and downhill flow of rock, mud, water and anything caught in the path.

Like, or characteristic of, an earthquake; loud; startling.

A vote won by a wide or overwhelming majority.

Shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane of from volcanic activity

To undergo a landslide.

A disturbance that is extremely disruptive;

The slipping down of a mass of land from a mountain, hill, etc.

The land which slips down.

An election victory in which the winning candidate receives a substantial majority of the votes, usually meaning at least ten per cent more than any opposing candidate.

Any overwhelming victory.

An overwhelming electoral victory;

A slide of a large mass of dirt and rock down a mountain or cliff

For earthquakes, building earthquake-resistant structures and practicing evacuation plans; for landslides, avoiding construction in prone areas and implementing slope stabilization measures.

Earthquakes are detected using seismographs, which measure ground vibrations. Landslides are harder to predict, but risk assessments and monitoring of vulnerable slopes can provide warnings.

Yes, the shaking from an earthquake can destabilize slopes, leading to landslides.

Water saturation from rainfall, melting snow, or other sources can weaken soil and rocks on slopes, making them prone to sliding.

Both can be extremely dangerous, but earthquakes can affect larger areas and have wider-reaching secondary effects, including triggering landslides.

Earthquakes cannot be predicted with precise timing, but seismic activity can be monitored for potential risks. Landslide risks can often be assessed based on slope conditions and rainfall.

Insurance companies use historical data, geographic information, and models to assess and price the risk of damage from these natural events.

The main difference is their cause: earthquakes result from tectonic movements, while landslides are caused by the movement of materials down slopes, often triggered by saturation, seismic activity, or human interference.

Living near a fault line increases the risk of experiencing earthquakes, so it's important to take precautions like retrofitting buildings to withstand shaking.

Ensure personal safety, check for injuries, avoid damaged buildings or slopes, and follow local emergency services' advice.

Both can lead to loss of life, damage to infrastructure, and long-term economic impacts. Earthquakes can also change landscapes and lead to other natural disasters.

Earthquakes are more common along tectonic plate boundaries where plates collide, separate, or slide past each other.

While generally destructive, landslides can create new habitats, redistribute nutrients, and form natural dams, contributing to ecological diversity.

Deforestation, construction, and other human activities can destabilize slopes and increase landslide risk.

Technology can assist through early warning systems, improved construction techniques, and satellite monitoring to identify risk areas for landslides.