seismology

/saɪzˈmɑlədʒi/

If you're fascinated by earthquakes and the science behind them, you might want to study seismology. This branch of geology includes learning about tectonic plates, volcanoes, and earthquake prediction.

The noun seismology comes from the Greek word for "earthquake," seismos, which stems from seiein, "to shake, agitate, or shiver." The suffix -logy is used to mean "the study of." Someone who's an expert in seismology is called a seismologist, and they study the seismic waves sent by earthquakes and the effects of earthquakes (like tsunamis), as well as the causes.

Definitions of seismology

1. noun

   the branch of geology that studies earthquakes
   type of:

   geophysical science, geophysics

   the science that studies how energy and matter interact in the earth's surface, interior, and surrounding space