What is the most common type of earthquake?

Earthquakes are caused by the movement of tectonic plates, and can be categorized into several types based on their characteristics. The most common type of earthquake is the strike-slip earthquake, which occurs when two tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally. This type of earthquake typically produces a lateral motion, or shaking, that is felt most strongly along the fault line.

Another common type of earthquake is the thrust earthquake, which occurs when one tectonic plate is pushed beneath another. This type of earthquake typically produces an up and down motion, or shaking, and can cause significant damage to buildings and infrastructure.

The third most common type of earthquake is the normal earthquake, which occurs when two tectonic plates pull away from each other, causing one plate to drop down relative to the other. This type of earthquake typically produces a shaking motion that is felt most strongly near the fault line.

While these are the most common types of earthquakes, there are several other types that can occur, including hybrid earthquakes, slow earthquakes, and supershear earthquakes.