The Modified Mercalli Scale
Seismograph stations help by providing critical data on the earthquake's location, magnitude, and depth. This information is crucial for assessing the impact, coordinating emergency response efforts, and developing early warning systems to mitigate future events. The more seismograph stations available, the more accurately and quickly this information can be gathered, benefiting earthquake victims by enabling more effective and timely response measures.
One of the largest earthquakes was the Magnitude 9.0 earthquake in Japan on March 11, 2011. The Jan 12, 2010 7.0 magnitude Earthquake in Haiti was the deadliest with the most fatalities in last 20 years. Take a look at the USGS Seismicity Maps for worldwide earthquake activity. A large full-scale detailed map is also available. USGS keeps lists of earthquakes by country, region, and year (1990 - present). See URL in related links.
True. Geologists can identify regions that are more prone to earthquakes based on historical data and tectonic plate activity, but they cannot predict the exact time or location of a specific earthquake. Despite advancements in seismology, the complex nature of geological processes makes precise predictions currently impossible.
Geologists cannot predict the exact timing and location of earthquakes due to the complex and chaotic nature of tectonic processes. While they can identify areas of high seismic risk based on historical data and geological features, the specific conditions that trigger an earthquake remain unpredictable. Additionally, the timescales involved in tectonic movements can span years to centuries, making precise forecasting challenging. As a result, earthquake prediction often relies on probabilistic models rather than precise predictions.
The Kamchatka 1952 earthquake was followed by numerous aftershocks, but an exact number is not available. Aftershocks can continue for days, weeks, or even years after a major earthquake, gradually decreasing in frequency and intensity over time.
Seismograph stations help by providing critical data on the earthquake's location, magnitude, and depth. This information is crucial for assessing the impact, coordinating emergency response efforts, and developing early warning systems to mitigate future events. The more seismograph stations available, the more accurately and quickly this information can be gathered, benefiting earthquake victims by enabling more effective and timely response measures.
The list of earthquakes by year (1990-Present) or by country can be found at the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program website.The USGS provides a list of significant earthquakes for 2002 as well as a worldwide map of earthquakes for that year and previous years. Lists for historical earthquakes from earlier years are also available.
On average, there are roughly 20,000 - 30,000 recorded earthquakes worldwide every year by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Earthquake Information Center. Of those, approximately 1 earthquake of magnitude 8.0 and higher (and 15 between M 7.0 - 7.9) occurs per year around the world. Some years have greater than average earthquakes such as 2007 in particular with 4 earthquakes of magnitude 8.0 or higher and 2008 with no earthquake higher than 7.9. The list of earthquakes by year (1990-Present) or by country can be found at the USGS Earthquake Hazards website. The USGS provides a list of significant earthquakes for each year starting from 1990 to present as well as a worldwide map of earthquakes. Lists for historical earthquakes from earlier years are also available. See link below.
One of the largest earthquakes was the Magnitude 9.0 earthquake in Japan on March 11, 2011. The Jan 12, 2010 7.0 magnitude Earthquake in Haiti was the deadliest with the most fatalities in last 20 years. Take a look at the USGS Seismicity Maps for worldwide earthquake activity. A large full-scale detailed map is also available. USGS keeps lists of earthquakes by country, region, and year (1990 - present). See URL in related links.
Currently earthquakes can not exactly be predicted, scientists can estimate the probability that an earthquake of a given size will affect a given location over a certain number of years, but it's still not possible to actually know if or when an earthquake will occur.China began trying to predict earthquakes in the 1970s but it was not so successful, they issued over 30 false predictions and only 2 correct ones. Japan attempted predictions around the same time which ultimately failed when an earthquake struck the city of Kobe in 1995. Several predictions were made by other countries throughout the 70-90s but almost all were entirely inaccurate.A good example of this would be the Parkfield earthquake prediction,the USGS predicted an earthquake to occur in Parkfield California between 1985 and 1993, this prediction was based upon regularly occurring earthquakes in the area in the early 1900s. These failed to occur but an earthquake did occur in that same area in 2004, showing some regularity in earthquakes, making predictions slightly more plausible.So, to date the only prediction method available is probability.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) there are over a million earthquakes each year around the world -- that's on average 3,561 per day or 2.5 per minute. Only a portion of these are recorded (~20 - 30K per year) because most occur over remote areas or in the ocean.The NEIC collects records for earthquakes world-wide and makes available lists of earthquakes by region, year, magnitude/intensity,etc.To see list of more recent (or historic) earthquakes visit USGS Earthquake Hazards Program.
what community resources are available in the event of an earthquake ?
The United States Geological Survey monitors worldwide seismic activity.Earthquakes are rated along the Richter scale. The Richter scale was invented by a seismologist, Dr. Charles Richter, and is a measure of the largest seismic wave recorded on a particular kind of seismograph located 62 miles from the epicenter of the earthquake.
It is easier to assign Mercalli intensity to historic earthquakes because it relies on the observed effects and damage caused by the earthquake rather than instrumental recordings, making it applicable for events that predate modern seismic instrumentation. Richter-type magnitude calculations, on the other hand, require precise instrumental measurements which are often not available for historic earthquakes.
True. Geologists can identify regions that are more prone to earthquakes based on historical data and tectonic plate activity, but they cannot predict the exact time or location of a specific earthquake. Despite advancements in seismology, the complex nature of geological processes makes precise predictions currently impossible.
Most earthquakes occur as a result of "stick-slip" behavior. As two plates move past each other they stick to each other along the fault and build up stress. Eventually the plates slip along part of the fault, releasing that stress as an earthquake. The longer part of a plate goes without an earthquake, the more stress builds up, and the more energy is available for a large earthquake. Scientists think these seismic gaps are areas where the plates have been stuck for a long time and so have built up stress for a very large earthquake.
Details available upon request is more appropriate