👉 Pre-earthquake is a scientific concept in Earth science that refers to the period before an earthquake occurs. It encompasses the time from when the ground shakes or feels like shaking until it has passed and the earth's surface is no longer shaking or feeling like it is shaking. The duration of this pre-earthquake phase can vary widely, but usually lasts for several seconds to a few minutes after the first tremor. During the pre-earthquake period, scientists study the Earth's structure and its response to seismic