What is the term used to describe the sudden and violent shaking of the ground?

The term that describes the sudden and violent shaking of the ground is known as an earthquake. This phenomenon occurs when there is a release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves, leading to the shaking of the ground. Earthquakes are typically caused by tectonic movements, such as the shifting of plates along fault lines.

While seismic activity refers to a range of phenomena, including earthquakes and the movement of the Earth's surface, it is a broader term that doesn't specifically capture the intensity and suddenness of ground shaking that characterizes an earthquake. Tsunamis, on the other hand, are large ocean waves triggered by underwater earthquakes or volcanic eruptions, and they do not refer to ground shaking itself. Similarly, a volcanic eruption involves the expulsion of magma and gases from a volcano and is distinct from the shaking of the ground that occurs during an earthquake. Hence, the specific term for the phenomenon in question is an earthquake.