History of Earthquake in Timeline

An earthquake is a sudden shaking of the Earth's surface caused by the release of energy in the lithosphere, generating seismic waves. These events vary greatly in intensity; minor tremors may be imperceptible, while major earthquakes can cause widespread destruction, collapsing buildings, damaging infrastructure, and even throwing people and objects into the air. The seismic activity of a region is defined by the frequency, type, and magnitude of earthquakes occurring within a specific timeframe. Seismicity refers to the average rate of seismic energy released per unit volume at a particular location on Earth.

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, according to the USGS.

1906: San Andreas Fault Earthquake

In 1906, an earthquake occurred along the San Andreas Fault, a strike-slip fault.

1906: San Francisco Earthquake Fires

In the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, more deaths were caused by the resulting fires than by the earthquake itself, highlighting the secondary hazard of fires after earthquakes.

1913: Location of Earth's Core

By analysis of seismograms, the Earth's core was located in 1913 by Beno Gutenberg.

1931: Number of Seismic Stations

In 1931, there were approximately 350 seismic stations. This number has increased to thousands today, leading to more reported earthquakes due to improved instrumentation.

1935: Richter Scale Development

In 1935, Charles Francis Richter developed the first scale for measuring earthquake magnitudes, with each unit representing a ten-fold difference in the amplitude of ground shaking.

1939: North Anatolian Fault Earthquake in Turkey

In 1939, an earthquake occurred along the North Anatolian Fault in Turkey, a strike-slip fault.

1946: Vancouver Island Landslide Affected Area

The 1946 Vancouver Island event in Canada was part of the reason Canada had the second highest area affected by landslides with 66,000 km2

1957: Earthquake in Alaska

In 1957, an earthquake occurred in Alaska, within a subduction zone, demonstrating the association between subduction zones and earthquake ruptures.

May 1960: Chilean Earthquake

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

1960: Earthquake in Chile

In 1960, an earthquake occurred in Chile, within a subduction zone, demonstrating the association between subduction zones and earthquake ruptures.

March 1964: Good Friday Earthquake

In March 1964, the Good Friday earthquake, centered in Prince William Sound, Alaska, released approximately half the energy of the 1960 Chilean earthquake.

1964: Earthquake in Alaska

In 1964, an earthquake occurred in Alaska, along converging plate margins. The dip angle of the rupture plane was shallow, allowing for a powerful earthquake.

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, illustrating the destructive impact of soil liquefaction.

1968: The Ragged Edge

The Ragged Edge (1968) depicts a fictional earthquake where the story generally begins with the disaster and focuses on its immediate aftermath.

1970: Ancash Earthquake Landslide Fatalities

The 1970 Ancash earthquake in Peru caused 22% of all landslide fatalities in a study group of 162 earthquakes from 1772 to 2021.

1972: Short Walk to Daylight

Short Walk to Daylight (1972) depicts a fictional earthquake where the story generally begins with the disaster and focuses on its immediate aftermath.

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1976: Tangshan Earthquake in China

In 1976, the Tangshan earthquake in China resulted in over 300,000 fatalities, marking it as one of the deadliest earthquakes in recorded history.

1977: Goodbye California

Goodbye California (1977) is one of the novels depicting the hypothetical "Big One" expected of California's San Andreas Fault someday.

1980: Eruption of Mount St. Helens

The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens was preceded by earthquakes that served as an early warning, illustrating the relationship between volcanic earthquakes and eruptions.

1988: Saguenay Landslide Affected Area

The 1988 Saguenay event in Canada was part of the reason Canada had the second highest area affected by landslides with 66,000 km2

1991: Earthquake Damage Costs

Between 1991 and 2023, earthquakes caused USD 336 billion of damage, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

1995: Kobe Earthquake

The 1995 Kobe earthquake is remembered as an example of great cities laid waste, influencing the portrayal of earthquakes in modern popular culture.

1996: Richter 10

Richter 10 (1996) is one of the novels depicting the hypothetical "Big One" expected of California's San Andreas Fault someday.

1999: Aftershock: Earthquake in New York

Aftershock: Earthquake in New York (1999) depicts a fictional earthquake where the story generally begins with the disaster and focuses on its immediate aftermath.

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2001: Kunlun Earthquake

The 2001 Kunlun earthquake's unusually wide zone of damage has been attributed to the sonic boom effects developed during the event, which propagated at speeds greater than the S wave velocity.

2002: Denali Fault Earthquake in Alaska

In 2002, an earthquake occurred along the Denali Fault in Alaska, exhibiting a shorter rupture length compared to subduction zone earthquakes.

2004: Earthquake in Sumatra

In 2004, an earthquake occurred in Sumatra, within a subduction zone, demonstrating the association between subduction zones and earthquake ruptures.

2004: Earthquake Swarm at Yellowstone National Park

In 2004, an earthquake swarm occurred at Yellowstone National Park, illustrating a sequence of earthquakes in a specific area within a short period without a distinct main shock.

2004: Indian Ocean Earthquake

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

2005: Kashmir Earthquake Landslide Fatalities

The 2005 Kashmir earthquake in Pakistan caused 21% of all landslide fatalities in a study group of 162 earthquakes from 1772 to 2021.

2008: Sichuan Earthquake

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

2008: Sichuan Earthquake Landslide Fatalities

The 2008 Sichuan earthquake resulted in 42% of all landslide fatalities in a study group of 162 earthquakes from 1772 to 2021.

2009: 2012

2012 (2009) is one of the novels depicting the hypothetical "Big One" expected of California's San Andreas Fault someday.

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2011: Earthquake in Japan

In 2011, an earthquake occurred in Japan, along converging plate margins. The dip angle of the rupture plane was shallow, allowing for a powerful earthquake.

2011: Tohoku-Oki (Fukushima) earthquake

Scientists analyzed gravitational records associated with the 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake and confirmed that gravitational measurement could provide instantaneous detection of earthquakes.

2011: Oklahoma Earthquake

The 5.7 magnitude Oklahoma earthquake in 2011 is thought to have been caused by disposing wastewater from oil production into injection wells, linking human activity to seismic events.