What is described as shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth?

The shaking and vibration at the surface of the Earth is best described as an earthquake. An earthquake occurs when there is a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves. These seismic waves propagate through the Earth and result in shaking that is felt at the surface.

While seismic waves are indeed responsible for the shaking that occurs during an earthquake, they are not the same as the event itself. Seismic waves are the energy transmitted through the Earth, and they can be recorded by instruments during and after an earthquake. Fault movement is the process that may lead to an earthquake but does not encapsulate the entire phenomenon of surface shaking.

A volcanic eruption may also cause ground shaking, but this shaking is specifically related to the volcanic activity and is not an earthquake in itself. In summary, an earthquake encompasses both the shaking and the associated seismic waves, making it the appropriate description for the shaking and vibration occurring at the Earth's surface.