地震类型 斜滑类型 与倾滑类型 的区别

Q: What is a fault and what are the different types?

问：什么是断层及其不同类型？

A: A fault is a fracture or zone of fractures between two blocks of rock. Faults allow the blocks to move relative to each other. This movement may occur rapidly, in the form of an earthquake - or may occur slowly, in the form of creep. Faults may range in length from a few millimeters to thousands of kilometers. Most faults produce repeated displacements over geologic time. During an earthquake, the rock on one side of the fault suddenly slips with respect to the other. The fault surface can be horizontal or vertical or some arbitrary angle in between.

答：断层是两个岩体之间的断裂面或多个断裂构成的断裂区域。断层令两个岩体之间产生相对运动。这种运动可能会以地震的形式快速发生，也可能以潜动的形式缓慢的发生。断层的长度范围会呈现几毫米到数千公里不等。大多数断层在整个地质时期反复发生断层位移。地震期间，断层一侧的岩体会突然相对另一岩体滑动。断层面可以是水平的、垂直的或处于这之间的任意角度（0～90°）。

Earth scientists use the angle of the fault with respect to the surface (known as the dip) and the direction of slip along the fault to classify