A tragic hero can be defined simply as the protagonist of a tragedy. The Greek philosopher Aristotle, however, endowed this individual with a number of specific characteristics. The first of which is his ability to evoke fear and pity from an audience.
Earthquakes are caused by either volcanic activity or shifting of massive tectonic plates underneath the surface of the earth. The plates have a ton of pressure and are pressing against each other, and when the plates suddenly shift it causes the entire ground to move, shake or break apart.
Surface waves are the slowest seismic waves and are the final waves to hit an area after an earthquake. First, P-waves move through compression through the deep layers of the Earth. P-waves are also carried by air and water, causing them to make a sound when they hit the Earth's surface. They result in minimal damage.