What is the term for a steep slope formed directly by movement along a fault before any erosion occurs?

The term for a steep slope formed directly by movement along a fault before any erosion occurs is known as a fault scarp. A fault scarp is a notable feature resulting from the vertical displacement of the Earth’s surface due to fault activity. When a fault slips, the abrupt change in elevation creates this steep slope, which is an immediate consequence of the seismic event.

Understanding this geological phenomenon is essential, as fault scarps can inform geologists about past seismic activity and help assess the potential for future earthquakes. In contrast, fault-line scarp can often refer to the line of fracture but does not specifically denote the steep slope itself. Ground lurching typically relates to the movement of ground during seismic shaking but does not describe the feature formed by fault movement. Lastly, the focus or hypocenter refers to the point within the Earth where the earthquake originates, not the surface feature created afterwards. Thus, the fault scarp not only encapsulates the immediate geological effect of fault movement but also serves as a key element in the study of tectonic activity.