History of Earthquake in Timeline

An earthquake is a shaking of the Earth's surface caused by a sudden release of energy in the lithosphere, generating seismic waves. Earthquakes vary significantly in intensity, ranging from imperceptible tremors to catastrophic events capable of widespread destruction, including collapsing buildings and displacing people. Seismic activity characterizes an area by the frequency, type, and magnitude of earthquakes over time, while seismicity quantifies the average rate of seismic energy release in a specific location within the Earth.

1900: Average Major Earthquakes

Since 1900, there has 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 Francisco Earthquake Fire

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

1906: San Andreas Fault Earthquake

In 1906, there was an earthquake along the San Andreas Fault.

1906: San Francisco Earthquake Mention in Popular Culture

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

1913: Earth's Core Located

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

1931: Increase in Seismic Stations

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

1935: Richter Scale Developed

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

1939: Earthquake in Turkey

In 1939, an earthquake occurred along the North Anatolian Fault in Turkey.

1946: Vancouver Island Landslides in Canada

In 1946, Canada was second with the highest area affected by landslides with 66,000 km due to the Vancouver Island landslides.

1957: Earthquake in Alaska

In 1957, an earthquake occurred in Alaska, a subduction zone.

May 1960: Chilean Earthquake Measured

In May 1960, the Chilean earthquake, the largest earthquake to be measured on a seismograph, reached a magnitude of 9.5. Its epicenter was near Cañete, Chile.

1960: Earthquake in Chile

In 1960, an earthquake occurred in Chile, a subduction zone.

March 1964: Good Friday Earthquake

In March 1964, the Good Friday earthquake occurred, centered in Prince William Sound, Alaska.

1964: Earthquake in Alaska

In 1964, an earthquake occurred in Alaska.

1964: Alaska Earthquake and 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 in 1968.

1970: Ancash Earthquake in Peru

In 1970, the Ancash earthquake occurred in Peru, accounting for 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 in 1972.

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1976: Tangshan Earthquake

In 1976, the Tangshan earthquake occurred, resulting in a death toll between 240,000 and 655,000 people, making it the deadliest earthquake of the 20th century.

1977: Goodbye California Novel

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 in 1977.

1980: Eruption of Mount St. Helens

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

1988: Saguenay Landslides in Canada

In 1988, Canada was second with the highest area affected by landslides with 66,000 km due to the Saguenay landslides.

1995: Kobe Earthquake Mention in Popular Culture

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 Novel

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 in 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 in 1999.

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2001: Kunlun Earthquake

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

2002: Earthquake in Alaska

In 2002, an earthquake occurred along the Denali Fault in Alaska.

2004: Earthquake in Sumatra

In 2004, an earthquake occurred in Sumatra, a subduction zone.

2004: Indian Ocean Earthquake

In 2004, the Indian Ocean earthquake occurred, and it is simultaneously one of the deadliest earthquakes in history.

2004: Earthquake Swarm at Yellowstone National Park

In 2004, there was an earthquake swarm at Yellowstone National Park.

2005: Kashmir Earthquake in Pakistan

In 2005, the Kashmir earthquake occurred in Pakistan, accounting for 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, though the link has not been conclusively proved.

2008: Sichuan Earthquake Landslide Fatalities

Due to the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, China had 42% of all landslide fatalities within the study (total event deaths were higher).

2009: 2012 Movie

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 in 2009.

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2011: Earthquake in Japan

In 2011, an earthquake occurred in Japan.

2011: Tohoku-Oki ("Fukushima") earthquake

In 2011, gravitational records associated with the Tohoku-Oki ("Fukushima") earthquake were analyzed.

2011: Oklahoma Earthquake

In 2011, the 5.7 magnitude Oklahoma earthquake is thought to have been caused by disposing wastewater from oil production into injection wells.

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

In August 2012, a swarm of earthquakes shook Southern California's Imperial Valley, marking the most recorded activity in the area since the 1970s.

2012: 2012 Movie

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 in 2009.

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2015: San Andreas Movie

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 in 2015.

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