Lists of earthquakes

Map of earthquakes 1900-

Lists of earthquakes document the occurrence of earthquakes across the world. Earthquakes are natural phenomena characterized by the shaking of the Earth's surface, resulting from the sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves. These lists are crucial for understanding earthquake patterns, assessing seismic risks, and planning for disaster preparedness and disaster response.

Overview

Earthquakes can range in size from those that are so weak that they cannot be felt to those violent enough to propel objects into the air and destroy entire cities. The moment magnitude scale (MMS) is commonly used to measure the size of earthquakes in terms of the energy released. The study of earthquakes and the waves they create is known as seismology, a branch of the Earth sciences.

Importance of Earthquake Lists

Lists of earthquakes are important for several reasons:

• Disaster Preparedness: By analyzing patterns and frequencies of past earthquakes, scientists and policymakers can better prepare for future seismic events.
• Historical Seismology: These lists help in the study of historical earthquakes, improving our understanding of their impacts on ancient civilizations.
• Seismic Hazard Assessment: They are essential for assessing the seismic hazard of different regions, which is crucial for building codes and insurance purposes.

Major Earthquake Lists

By Decade

• List of earthquakes 2000–2009
• List of earthquakes 2010–2019
• List of earthquakes 2020–2029

By Magnitude

• List of largest earthquakes by magnitude

By Death Toll

• List of deadliest earthquakes

By Country or Region

• List of earthquakes in Japan
• List of earthquakes in California
• List of earthquakes in Chile

Recording Earthquakes

The recording of earthquakes is done using seismographs, which measure the motion of the ground, including the speed and duration of the earthquake. Seismologists use these recordings to determine the location and magnitude of an earthquake.

See Also

• Earthquake engineering
• Seismic wave
• Tsunami