Editing Foreshock (section)

==Mechanics==
The observation of foreshocks associated with many earthquakes suggests that they are part of a preparation process prior to [[Earthquake#Rupture dynamics|nucleation]].<ref name="NRS"/> In one model of earthquake rupture, the process forms as a cascade, starting with a very small event that triggers a larger one, continuing until the main shock rupture is triggered. However, analysis of some foreshocks has shown that they tend to relieve stress around the fault. In this view, foreshocks and aftershocks are part of the same process. This is supported by an observed relationship between the rate of foreshocks and the rate of aftershocks for an event.<ref name="Felzer">{{cite journal|last=Felzer|first=K.R.|author2=Abercrombie R.E.|author3=Ekström G.|year=2004|title=A Common Origin for Aftershocks, Foreshocks, and Multiplets|journal=Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America|volume=94|issue=1|pages=88–98|doi=10.1785/0120030069|url=http://128.197.153.21/rea/web_online/SSA03069_felzer_feb04.PDF|access-date=29 November 2010|bibcode=2004BuSSA..94...88F|archive-date=3 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703033726/http://128.197.153.21/rea/web_online/SSA03069_felzer_feb04.PDF|url-status=dead}}</ref> In practice, there are two main conflicting theories about foreshocks: earthquake triggering process (described in SOC models and ETAS-like models) and the loading process by aseismic slip (nucleation models). This debate about the prognostic value of foreshocks is well known as Foreshock Hypothesis.<ref name= "Mignan"> {{cite journal|title=The debate on the prognostic value of earthquake foreshocks: A meta-analysis|last=Mignan|first=A.|date=14 February 2014|volume=4 |page=4099 |journal=Scientific Reports|doi=10.1038/srep04099 |pmid=24526224 |pmc=3924212 |bibcode= }}</ref>