History of Earthquake in Timeline

An earthquake is the shaking of the Earth's surface caused by a sudden energy release in the lithosphere, generating seismic waves. These events vary significantly in intensity. Weak earthquakes may be imperceptible, while powerful ones can cause widespread destruction, including infrastructure damage and displacement of objects and people. The seismic activity of a region describes the frequency, type, and magnitude of earthquakes experienced over time. Seismicity refers to the average rate of seismic energy released per unit volume at a specific location within the Earth.

1900: Earthquake Averages

Since 1900, the USGS estimates that 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, and that this average has been relatively stable.

1906: San Andreas Fault Earthquake (1906)

In 1906, an earthquake occurred along the San Andreas Fault. This strike-slip fault resulted in a rupture length of about half to one third as long as the lengths along subducting plate margins.

1906: 1906 San Francisco earthquake

In the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, more deaths were caused by fire than by the earthquake itself, due to damaged electrical power or gas lines and the rupture of water mains.

1906: Earthquake in San Francisco

The 1906 San Francisco earthquake shaped modern popular culture's portrayal of earthquakes, marking it as one of the great cities laid waste.

1913: Discovery of the Earth's Core

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 around 350, which has since increased to many thousands today. This vast improvement in instrumentation means many more earthquakes are reported than in the past.

1935: Richter Scale Developed

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

1939: Earthquake on the North Anatolian Fault in Turkey (1939)

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

1946: 1946 Vancouver Island

In 1946, Vancouver Island in Canada was one of the highest area affected by landslides with 66,000 km.

1957: Earthquake in Alaska (1957)

In 1957, an earthquake occurred in Alaska in a subduction zone. This event, along with others like Chile (1960) and Sumatra (2004), demonstrates how the Earth's crust stores and releases elastic energy.

May 1960: 1960 Chilean earthquake

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

1960: Earthquake in Chile (1960)

In 1960, an earthquake occurred in Chile in a subduction zone. This event, along with others like Alaska (1957) and Sumatra (2004), demonstrates how the Earth's crust stores and releases elastic energy.

1960: 1960 Valdivia earthquake in Chile

The 1960 Valdivia earthquake in Chile, with a magnitude of 9.5, is the largest earthquake ever recorded. This earthquake is a significant event in seismological history.

March 1964: Good Friday earthquake

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

1964: Earthquake in Alaska (1964)

An earthquake occurred in Alaska in 1964, along converging plate margins, where the dip angle of the rupture plane is very shallow, typically about 10 degrees. Thus, 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)

The Ragged Edge (1968) is a story about earthquakes generally begin with the disaster and focus on its immediate aftermath.

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)

Short Walk to Daylight (1972) is a story about earthquakes generally begin with the disaster and focus on its immediate aftermath.

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1976: 1976 Tangshan earthquake in China

The 1976 Tangshan earthquake in China resulted in over 300,000 fatalities, marking it as a significant historical earthquake. This event underscores the devastating impact earthquakes can have.

1977: Goodbye California (1977)

Goodbye California (1977) is a novel that depicts the hypothetical 'Big One' expected of California's San Andreas Fault someday.

1980: 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens

In 1980, the eruption of Mount St. Helens was preceded by earthquakes that served as an early warning of the volcanic activity.

1988: 1988 Saguenay

In 1988, the Saguenay region in Canada was one of the highest area affected by landslides with 66,000 km.

1995: Earthquake in Kobe

The 1995 Kobe earthquake shaped modern popular culture's portrayal of earthquakes, marking it as one of the great cities laid waste.

1996: Richter 10 (1996)

Richter 10 (1996) is a novel that depicts the hypothetical 'Big One' expected of California's San Andreas Fault someday.

1999: Aftershock: Earthquake in New York (1999)

Aftershock: Earthquake in New York (1999) is a story about earthquakes generally begin with the disaster and focus on its immediate aftermath.

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2001: 2001 Kunlun earthquake

The 2001 Kunlun earthquake, a large strike-slip event, caused an unusually wide zone of damage. The damage has been attributed to the effects of the sonic boom developed in supershear earthquake ruptures.

2002: Denali Fault Earthquake in Alaska (2002)

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

2004: Earthquake in Sumatra (2004)

In 2004, an earthquake occurred in Sumatra in a subduction zone. This event, along with others like Alaska (1957) and Chile (1960), demonstrates how the Earth's crust stores and releases elastic energy.

2004: 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake

The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake is one of the deadliest earthquakes in history.

2004: 2004 activity at Yellowstone National Park

The 2004 activity at Yellowstone National Park is an example of an earthquake swarm, which is characterized by a sequence 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)

2012 (2009) is a novel that depicts the hypothetical 'Big One' expected of California's San Andreas Fault someday.

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2011: Earthquake in Japan (2011)

An earthquake occurred in Japan in 2011, along converging plate margins, where the dip angle of the rupture plane is very shallow, typically about 10 degrees. Thus, 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 earthquake

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