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 violent upheavals capable of causing widespread destruction. Seismic activity reflects the frequency, type, and magnitude of earthquakes in a specific area over time, while seismicity measures the average rate of seismic energy release per unit volume at a particular location.

1900: Earthquake statistics since 1900

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 (1906)

In 1906, an earthquake occurred on the San Andreas Fault. The earthquake ruptures on strike-slip faults are about half to one third as long as the lengths along subducting plate margins.

1906: San Francisco earthquake in 1906

In modern popular culture, the portrayal of earthquakes is shaped by the memory of great cities laid waste, such as San Francisco in 1906.

1906: 1906 San Francisco earthquake

More deaths in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake were caused by fire than by the earthquake itself.

1913: Location of Earth's core (1913)

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

1931: Number of seismic stations in 1931

In 1931, there were about 350 seismic stations. The number of seismic stations has increased to many thousands today.

1935: Development of the Richter scale (1935)

In 1935, Charles Francis Richter developed the first scale for measuring earthquake magnitudes. Subsequent scales retained a key feature, where each unit represents a ten-fold difference in the amplitude of the ground shaking and a 32-fold difference in energy.

1939: North Anatolian Fault earthquake in Turkey (1939)

In 1939, an earthquake occurred on the North Anatolian Fault in Turkey. The earthquake ruptures on strike-slip faults are about half to one third as long as the lengths along subducting plate margins.

1946: Landslides in Canada (1946)

In 1946, Canada had 66,000 km affected by landslides in Vancouver Island.

1957: Earthquakes in Alaska (1957)

In 1957, an earthquake occurred in Alaska. It is an example of the earthquakes in subduction zones. The earthquake ruptures can reach approximately 1,000 km.

May 1960: 1960 Chilean earthquake

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

1960: Earthquakes in Chile (1960)

In 1960, an earthquake occurred in Chile. It is an example of the earthquakes in subduction zones. The earthquake ruptures can reach approximately 1,000 km.

1960: 1960 Valdivia earthquake in Chile

In 1960, the Valdivia earthquake occurred in Chile. It was the largest earthquake ever recorded, with a magnitude of 9.5. This earthquake resulted in ground shaking, soil liquefaction, tsunamis, and landslides, causing significant damage and loss of life.

March 1964: Good Friday earthquake (1964)

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

1964: Earthquake in Alaska (1964)

In 1964, an earthquake occurred in Alaska. The width of the plane within the top brittle crust of the Earth can reach 50–100 km, making the most powerful earthquakes possible.

1964: 1964 Alaska earthquake

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

1968: The Ragged Edge (1968)

In 1968, the earthquake and its aftermath are portrayed in The Ragged Edge.

1970: 1970 Ancash earthquake

Due to the 1970 Ancash earthquake, Peru had 22% of all landslide fatalities within the study (total event deaths were higher).

1972: Short Walk to Daylight (1972)

In 1972, the earthquake and its aftermath are portrayed in Short Walk to Daylight.

Loading Video...

1976: 1976 Tangshan earthquake

In 1976, the Tangshan earthquake occurred. It was the deadliest earthquake of the 20th century, killing between 240,000 and 655,000 people.

1977: Goodbye California (1977)

In 1977, the novel Goodbye California depicted the hypothetical "Big One" expected of California's San Andreas Fault someday.

1980: 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens

During the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, earthquakes served as an early warning of volcanic eruptions. Earthquake swarms can serve as markers for the location of the flowing magma throughout the volcanoes.

1988: Landslides in Canada (1988)

In 1988, Canada had 66,000 km affected by landslides in Saguenay.

1995: Kobe earthquake in 1995

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

1996: Richter 10 (1996)

In 1996, Richter 10 novel depicted the hypothetical "Big One" expected of California's San Andreas Fault someday.

1999: Aftershock: Earthquake in New York (1999)

In 1999, the earthquake and its aftermath are portrayed in Aftershock: Earthquake in New York.

Loading Video...

2001: 2001 Kunlun earthquake

The unusually wide zone of damage caused by the 2001 Kunlun earthquake has been attributed to the effects of the sonic boom developed in such earthquakes.

2002: Denali Fault earthquake in Alaska (2002)

In 2002, an earthquake occurred on the Denali Fault in Alaska. The earthquake ruptures on strike-slip faults are about half to one third as long as the lengths along subducting plate margins.

2004: Earthquakes in Sumatra (2004)

In 2004, an earthquake occurred in Sumatra. It is an example of the earthquakes in subduction zones. The earthquake ruptures can reach approximately 1,000 km.

2004: 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake

In 2004, the Indian Ocean earthquake occurred. It is one of the ten largest recorded earthquakes and simultaneously one of the deadliest earthquakes in history.

2004: 2004 activity at Yellowstone National Park

In 2004, there was earthquake swarm activity at Yellowstone National Park. Earthquake swarms are sequences of earthquakes striking in a specific area within a short period.

2005: 2005 Kashmir earthquake

Due to the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, Pakistan had 21% of all landslide fatalities within the study (total event deaths were higher).

2008: 2008 Sichuan earthquake

A Columbia University paper suggested that the 8.0 magnitude 2008 Sichuan earthquake was induced by loading from the Zipingpu Dam, though the link has not been conclusively proved.

2009: 2012 (2009)

In 2009, the novel 2012 depicted the hypothetical "Big One" expected of California's San Andreas Fault someday.

Loading Video...

2011: Earthquake in Japan (2011)

In 2011, an earthquake occurred in Japan. The width of the plane within the top brittle crust of the Earth can reach 50–100 km, making the most powerful earthquakes possible.

2011: 2011 Tohoku-Oki ("Fukushima") earthquake

Scientists confirmed the instantaneous detection of earthquakes using gravitational measurement by analyzing gravitational records associated with the 2011 Tohoku-Oki ('Fukushima') earthquake.

2011: 2011 Oklahoma earthquake

The 5.7 magnitude 2011 Oklahoma earthquake is thought to have been caused by disposing wastewater from oil production into injection wells, and studies point to the state's oil industry as the cause of other earthquakes in the past century.

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. Earthquake swarms are sequences of earthquakes striking in a specific area within a short period.