This might be a dumb question, but how do they differentiate an "aftershock" from an "earthquake?" At what point would it be considered a separate earthquake from the first, rather than an aftershock?
In very general terms (and without the very specific details that scientists may use) ... it's a lesser earthquake than the main and initial one, and it's one that is part of the "swarm" of earthquakes that continue for a while after that main one -- during which times things are "settling down" and "readjusting" to their new positions.
There are a lot of adjustments being made underground during this time and that's what all these earthquakes are... the "settling down adjustments".
HI there - wow - can anyone give me a quick summary about this earthquake in Chile today?
(Heard about it at the office but this is the first chance I have had to read about it - but I am doing a few other things at this time also - so if anybody who reads this can give me a few sentence summary of this quake event - I would appreciate it.)
God is at work! Praise and thank Him!