History of Earthquake in Timeline

An earthquake is the shaking of the Earth's surface caused by a sudden release of energy in the lithosphere, generating seismic waves. These events vary in intensity, from imperceptible tremors to catastrophic quakes capable of causing widespread destruction and displacement. The seismic activity of a region is characterized by the frequency, type, and magnitude of earthquakes experienced over time, while seismicity refers to the average rate of seismic energy released per unit volume in a specific location.

1900: Earthquake Averages

Since 1900, there have been an average of 18 major earthquakes (magnitude 7.0–7.9) and one great earthquake (magnitude 8.0 or greater) per year.

1906: San Andreas Fault Earthquake

In 1906, an earthquake occurred on the San Andreas Fault, about half to one third as long as the lengths along subducting plate margins.

1906: San Francisco Earthquake - Fires

In the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, more deaths were caused by fire than by the earthquake itself.

1913: Earth's Core Located

In 1913, Beno Gutenberg located the Earth's core by analyzing seismograms.

1931: Increase in Seismic Stations

In 1931, the number of seismic stations was about 350.

1935: Richter Scale Developed

In 1935, Charles Francis Richter developed the first scale for measuring earthquake magnitudes.

1939: North Anatolian Fault Earthquake in Turkey

In 1939, an earthquake occurred on the North Anatolian Fault in Turkey, about half to one third as long as the lengths along subducting plate margins.

1946: Vancouver Island Landslide area

In 1946, Canada had 66,000 km affected by landslides during the Vancouver Island earthquake.

1957: Alaska Earthquake

In 1957, an earthquake occurred in Alaska in subduction zones, with long earthquake ruptures.

May 1960: Chilean Earthquake Measured

On May 22, 1960, the Chilean earthquake reached a magnitude of 9.5, measured on a seismograph, with its epicenter near Cañete, Chile. The energy released was approximately twice that of the next most powerful earthquake.

1960: Chile Earthquake

In 1960, an earthquake occurred in Chile in subduction zones, with long earthquake ruptures.

1960: Valdivia Earthquake in Chile

In 1960, the Valdivia earthquake occurred in Chile. It was the largest earthquake ever recorded, reaching a magnitude of 9.5.

March 1964: Good Friday Earthquake

On March 27, 1964, the Good Friday earthquake occurred, centered in Prince William Sound, Alaska. It was the next most powerful earthquake after the 1960 Chilean earthquake.

1964: Alaska Earthquake

In 1964, an earthquake occurred in Alaska with a wide rupture plane within the top brittle crust of the Earth that reached 50-100 km.

1964: Alaska Earthquake - Soil Liquefaction

In the 1964 Alaska earthquake, soil liquefaction caused many buildings to sink into the ground, eventually collapsing upon themselves.

1968: The Ragged Edge

Stories about earthquakes generally begin with the disaster and focus on its immediate aftermath, as in The Ragged Edge (1968).

1970: Ancash Earthquake Landslide Fatalities

In the 1970 Ancash earthquake, Peru had 22% of all landslide fatalities within the study.

1972: Short Walk to Daylight

Stories about earthquakes generally begin with the disaster and focus on its immediate aftermath, as in Short Walk to Daylight (1972).

Loading Video...

1976: Tangshan Earthquake

In 1976, the Tangshan earthquake occurred, resulting in a large number of fatalities and becoming the deadliest earthquake of the 20th century.

1977: Goodbye California

The most popular single earthquake in fiction is the hypothetical "Big One" expected of California's San Andreas Fault someday, as depicted in the novel Goodbye California (1977).

1980: Mount St. Helens Eruption

In 1980, earthquakes served as an early warning of the eruption of Mount St. Helens.

1988: Saguenay Landslide area

In 1988, Canada had 66,000 km affected by landslides during the Saguenay earthquake.

1995: Kobe Earthquake

The memory of great cities laid waste by earthquakes, such as Kobe in 1995, shapes the portrayal of earthquakes in modern popular culture.

1996: Richter 10

The most popular single earthquake in fiction is the hypothetical "Big One" expected of California's San Andreas Fault someday, as depicted in the novel Richter 10 (1996).

1999: Aftershock: Earthquake in New York

Stories about earthquakes generally begin with the disaster and focus on its immediate aftermath, as in Aftershock: Earthquake in New York (1999).

Loading Video...

2001: Kunlun Earthquake

In 2001, the Kunlun earthquake occurred and the unusually wide zone of damage caused by the sonic boom.

2002: Denali Fault Earthquake in Alaska

In 2002, an earthquake occurred on the Denali Fault in Alaska, about half to one third as long as the lengths along subducting plate margins.

2004: Sumatra Earthquake

In 2004, an earthquake occurred in Sumatra in subduction zones, with long earthquake ruptures.

2004: Earthquake swarm at Yellowstone National Park

In 2004, earthquake swarms occurred at Yellowstone National Park. These are sequences of earthquakes striking in a specific area within a short period without a single main shock.

2005: Kashmir Earthquake Landslide Fatalities

In the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, Pakistan had 21% of all landslide fatalities within the study.

2008: Sichuan Earthquake

A Columbia University paper suggested that the 8.0 magnitude 2008 Sichuan earthquake was induced by loading from the Zipingpu Dam.

2008: Sichuan Earthquake Landslide Fatalities

Due to the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, China had 42% of all landslide fatalities within the study.

2009: 2012

The most popular single earthquake in fiction is the hypothetical "Big One" expected of California's San Andreas Fault someday, as depicted in the movie 2012 (2009).

Loading Video...

2011: Japan Earthquake

In 2011, an earthquake occurred in Japan with a wide rupture plane within the top brittle crust of the Earth that reached 50-100 km.

2011: Tohoku-Oki (Fukushima) earthquake

In 2011, scientists confirmed that gravitational measurement could provide instantaneous detection of earthquakes, by analyzing gravitational records associated with the Tohoku-Oki earthquake.

August 2012: Earthquake swarm in Southern California's Imperial Valley

In August 2012, a swarm of earthquakes shook Southern California's Imperial Valley, showing the most recorded activity in the area since the 1970s. These are sequences of earthquakes striking in a specific area within a short period without a single main shock.

2012: 2012

The most popular single earthquake in fiction is the hypothetical "Big One" expected of California's San Andreas Fault someday, as depicted in the movie 2012 (2009).

Loading Video...

2015: San Andreas

The most popular single earthquake in fiction is the hypothetical "Big One" expected of California's San Andreas Fault someday, as depicted in the movie San Andreas (2015).

Loading Video...