tërmeti

Tërmeti, or the earthquake, is the ground shaking caused by the rapid release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere. This energy propagates as seismic waves that travel through rocks and along the surface, producing ground displacement and vibration. The most common source is the movement of tectonic plates at faults, where stress builds up due to plate motion and is released in sudden slips. Other causes include volcanic activity, landslides, and, in some cases, human activities such as reservoir-induced seismicity or mining.

Seismologists describe earthquakes by magnitude and intensity. Magnitude measures the energy released at the source, with moment magnitude Mw representing the modern standard; local magnitude, historically called the Richter scale, is still used in some contexts. Intensity describes observed effects on people, structures, and the environment, typically assessed on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale. Ground shaking is influenced by depth, distance from the focus, faulting style, and local geology, including soil properties that can amplify motion.

Impacts of tërmeti range from mild to catastrophic, including damage to buildings, infrastructure, and utilities; ground ruptures; landslides; and, in coastal regions, tsunamis. Secondary hazards such as liquefaction and aftershocks contribute to ongoing risk after the initial event. Preparedness measures emphasize seismic hazard assessment, strict building codes, retrofitting of vulnerable structures, land-use planning, emergency response planning, and, in some regions, early warning systems.

In Albanian, tërmet refers to this natural phenomenon; tërmeti is the definite form used when referring to a specific event or to earthquakes in general discourse. Worldwide, continuous seismology monitoring and research aim to improve understanding, prediction capabilities, and public safety.