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- Man-made DisastersWeather DisastersNatural DisastersEarthquakes
About 8,000 mini-quakes a day, and on average, one exceptionally big one per year
There are thousands upon thousands of earthquakes annually, ranging on average from 18 major quakes to more than 2 million very minor ones per year (approximately 8,000 per day). On average, we can expect one exceptionally big one (with a magnitude of 8 or higher) each year.
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Not “On the Richter Scale”
Although “on the Richter Scale” is still a commonly used expression, the scale, developed by Charles F. Richter of California Institute of Technology in 1935, is no longer the most commonly used magnitude measurement. One of its flaws is its imprecision in measuring the biggest earthquakes, those in the range of 8 or 9.
Different methods of measuring magnitude have superseded the Richter Scale, including surface-wave magnitude, which measures the seismic waves crackling around Earth’s surface, and moment magnitude, the newest method, which is based on the size of the fault on which an earthquake occurs and the amount the Earth slips. Moment magnitude is the most uniformly applicable scale.
Intensity versus Magnitude
These two terms are often confused: intensity is based on the observed effects of an earthquake on its surroundings, whereas magnitude measures the amount of seismic energy released.
The Modified Mercalli (MM) Intensity Scale measures 12 increasing levels of intensity (each designated by a Roman numeral) from imperceptible shaking to catastrophic destruction. More subjective and less scientific than magnitude, intensity is nevertheless a meaningful way of capturing the terror and destruction of an earthquake. It is the intensity of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake that is remembered, not its magnitude.
The Twentieth Century’s Largest Earthquake
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The Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
- The Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.
Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
The Twelve Dancing Princesses
Current Events This Week: January 2023
African Americans by the Numbers
Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales
TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.
Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
The Twelve Dancing Princesses
Current Events This Week: January 2023
African Americans by the Numbers
Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales
- Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
- The Twelve Dancing Princesses
- Current Events This Week: January 2023
- African Americans by the Numbers
- Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
- The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales
✖
✖
The 2011 Nuclear Crisis in Japan
Earthquakes
The Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
Checking in: Japan One Year Later
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2010
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2011
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2012
Major Earthquakes around the World, 2015
Major Earthquakes around the World, 2016
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2001
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2002
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2003
Load More
The 2011 Nuclear Crisis in Japan
Earthquakes
The Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
Checking in: Japan One Year Later
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2010
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2011
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2012
Major Earthquakes around the World, 2015
Major Earthquakes around the World, 2016
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2001
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2002
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2003
Load More
The 2011 Nuclear Crisis in Japan
Earthquakes
The Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
Checking in: Japan One Year Later
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2010
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2011
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2012
Major Earthquakes around the World, 2015
Major Earthquakes around the World, 2016
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2001
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2002
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2003
Load More
The 2011 Nuclear Crisis in Japan
Earthquakes
The Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
Checking in: Japan One Year Later
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2010
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2011
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2012
Major Earthquakes around the World, 2015
Major Earthquakes around the World, 2016
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2001
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2002
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2003
Load More
The 2011 Nuclear Crisis in Japan
Earthquakes
The Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
Checking in: Japan One Year Later
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2010
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2011
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2012
Major Earthquakes around the World, 2015
Major Earthquakes around the World, 2016
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2001
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2002
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2003
The 2011 Nuclear Crisis in Japan
The 2011 Nuclear Crisis in Japan
Earthquakes
Earthquakes
The Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
The Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake
Checking in: Japan One Year Later
Checking in: Japan One Year Later
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2010
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2010
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2011
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2011
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2012
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2012
Major Earthquakes around the World, 2015
Major Earthquakes around the World, 2015
Major Earthquakes around the World, 2016
Major Earthquakes around the World, 2016
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2001
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2001
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2002
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2002
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2003
Estimated Deaths from Earthquakes, 2003
