Seismic response of landfill

The seismic response of a landfill is like a big giant jigsaw puzzle. When the ground shakes, it changes how the pieces fit together. The pieces, which are made out of different materials and different shapes, stretch, slide and move in different directions, causing changes in the way the landfill looks and feels. Scientists measure how much the pieces move and how it affects the landfill. They use this information to help design landfills that can handle the shaking of an earthquake so that they are more stable and don't cause damage.