Tremor

noun

A small, shaky movement in the ground. Tremors are smaller than earthquakes, but they still matter: at a volcano, a pattern of tiny tremors often means magma is moving underneath.

Geotechnical Engineering — Cracker
Go Deeper For parents & teachers
Low-magnitude seismic activity, often continuous rather than sudden. Volcanic tremor is typically caused by fluid movement — magma, gas, or heated groundwater — forcing its way through cracks in the surrounding rock. Unlike tectonic earthquakes, which produce sharp single shocks, volcanic tremor tends to hum for minutes or hours. It's one of the key warning signals monitored by volcanological observatories.

Appears In

The Burning Mountain Chapter 1 — When the Mountain Roared

"The cubs did not understand numbers or vent models or what different tremor waves meant through old volcanic rock. They did not need to. They knew …"

The Burning Mountain Chapter 1 — When the Mountain Roared

"The second tremor came halfway to the lower bend."

The Burning Mountain Chapter 4 — The Warning Station

"The first real test came from the mountain itself. A tremor shook the shelf. The relay cup rattled. Then the station answered - heat …"

The Burning Mountain Chapter 7 — The Bear in the Smoke

"… his boots, the ground gave a faint tap - not quite a tremor, more like a message sent up through stone."

The Burning Mountain Chapter 8 — Gertie's Plan for Survival

"… The lower vent hissed like an angry kettle. Every few minutes, a tremor made the mugs on the tabletops shiver."

The Burning Mountain Chapter 12 — When Plans Break

"A tremor rolled through the yard. Long and low. Dust jumped along the survey rail. The hanging lamps swung."

The Burning Mountain Chapter 16 — The Echo Under the Ridge

"Then Lina placed one quiet paw on the survey board and said, "The caldera showed a fresh tremor signature this morning. Not here.""

See Also

Fault Fault Line Pressure