Seismology (; from
Greek σεισμός "earthquake" and -λογία "study of") is the scientific study of
earthquakes and the propagation of elastic waves through the
Earth or through other planet-like bodies. The field also includes studies of
earthquake environmental effects, such as
tsunamis as well as diverse
seismic sources such as volcanic, tectonic, oceanic, atmospheric, and artificial processes (such as explosions). A related field that uses
geology to infer information regarding past earthquakes is
paleoseismology. A recording of earth motion as a function of time is called a
seismogram. A seismologist is a scientist who does research in seismology.