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.
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.
In 1906, an earthquake occurred on the San Andreas Fault, about half to one third as long as the lengths along subducting plate margins.
In the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, more deaths were caused by fire than by the earthquake itself.
In 1913, Beno Gutenberg located the Earth's core by analyzing seismograms.
In 1931, the number of seismic stations was about 350.
In 1935, Charles Francis Richter developed the first scale for measuring earthquake magnitudes.
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.
In 1946, Canada had 66,000 km affected by landslides during the Vancouver Island earthquake.
In 1957, an earthquake occurred in Alaska in subduction zones, with long earthquake ruptures.
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.
In 1960, an earthquake occurred in Chile in subduction zones, with long earthquake ruptures.
In 1960, the Valdivia earthquake occurred in Chile. It was the largest earthquake ever recorded, reaching a magnitude of 9.5.
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.
In the 1964 Alaska earthquake, soil liquefaction caused many buildings to sink into the ground, eventually collapsing upon themselves.
Stories about earthquakes generally begin with the disaster and focus on its immediate aftermath, as in The Ragged Edge (1968).
In the 1970 Ancash earthquake, Peru had 22% of all landslide fatalities within the study.
Stories about earthquakes generally begin with the disaster and focus on its immediate aftermath, as in Short Walk to Daylight (1972).
In 1976, the Tangshan earthquake occurred, resulting in a large number of fatalities and becoming the deadliest earthquake of the 20th century.
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).
In 1980, earthquakes served as an early warning of the eruption of Mount St. Helens.
In 1988, Canada had 66,000 km affected by landslides during the Saguenay earthquake.
The memory of great cities laid waste by earthquakes, such as Kobe in 1995, shapes the portrayal of earthquakes in modern popular culture.
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).
Stories about earthquakes generally begin with the disaster and focus on its immediate aftermath, as in Aftershock: Earthquake in New York (1999).
In 2001, the Kunlun earthquake occurred and the unusually wide zone of damage caused by the sonic boom.
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.
In 2004, an earthquake occurred in Sumatra in subduction zones, with long earthquake ruptures.
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.
In the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, Pakistan had 21% of all landslide fatalities within the study.
A Columbia University paper suggested that the 8.0 magnitude 2008 Sichuan earthquake was induced by loading from the Zipingpu Dam.
Due to the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, China had 42% of all landslide fatalities within the study.
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).
In 2011, scientists confirmed that gravitational measurement could provide instantaneous detection of earthquakes, by analyzing gravitational records associated with the Tohoku-Oki earthquake.
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.
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).
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).
In 2016, scientists realized that gravitational measurement could provide instantaneous detection of earthquakes.
A study group of 162 earthquakes from 1772 to 2021 showed that China stood out in several categories that included landslide fatalities.
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