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User:Opriter/Haiti Reconstruction/MOVEMENT OF THE EARTH

Historical perspective about the movement of the earth

Scientists, philosophers and theologians have struggled with the causes of many violent natural disasters that wreaked havoc on the earth's surface They also wrestled with the causes of the different shapes of the earth. During the 1700's most Europeans believe that a biblical flood played a great role in the shaping of the earth's surface. This theory was known as catastrophism and states that all the earthly changes are sudden and caused by a series of catastrophes. During the mid-century a new theory called “ uniformitarianism” was born. This theory was based on the “ Uniformitarian Principle” proposed in 1785 by James Hutton, a Scottish geologist. This view point assumes that the geologic forces acting today are the same as those acting in the past.

Theory of continental drift

The theory of continental drift was first suggested in 1956 by the dutch mapmaker Abraham Ortellius in his work Thesaurus Geographicus. Ortellius theory stated the Americas were torn away from Europe and Africa by earthquakes and floods. He said “The vestiges of the ruptures reveal themselves if someone brings forward a map of the world and considers carefully the coasts of the three continents”. In 1912 the 32 year old German meteorologist Alfred Lothar Wegener published in two articles an introduction of the theory of continental drift. According to this theory the supercontinent Pangaea began to split apart 500million years ago. One of the fierce supporters of Wegener, Alexander Du Toit, Professor of Geology at Witwatersrand University proposed that Pangaea first broke into two large continental landmasses, Laurasia in the northern hemisphere and Gondwanaland in the southern hemisphere. Gondwanaland and Laurasia break apart into the various smaller continents that exist today. A study of the geological history of the earth show the drifting process that led to the formation of the present day continent took place during various long segments of time of the geological timescale. It started during the Permian period (225 million years ago)of the Paleozoic era and continued during the mesozoic and the Cenozoic eras. The mesozoic is divided in three periods: the Triassic (200 million years ago), the Jurassic (150 million years ago and the crustacerous period (65 million years ago). The Cenozoic era covers the 65.5 million years since the crustacerous.

Wegener's theory was based on his predecessor Ortellius theory that the African continent and the south American continent were once unified. This was confirmed by the existence of identical geological structures, plant and animal fossils on both continents now separated by the Atlantic ocean. Wegener contended that it was impossible for these organisms to have been transported across the vast oceans.

According to Wegener the drifting of the continents not only explained the existence of the fossils but also the existence of dramatic climate changes on some continents. For example the discovery of fossils of tropical plants in Antarctica inferred that this frozen land must have been located closer to the equator in a more temperate climate where vegetation could grow. Wegener's fellow scientists didn't believe his theory. They didn't believe in Wegener's explanation about the cause of the movements of the continents. Wegener stated the continents simply plowed through the ocean floor. A famous English geophysicist argued it was impossible for a large mass of solid rock to move through the ocean floor without breaking up.

In spite of rejection Wegener pursued his work on searching for evidence of his theory of continental drift until his death in 1930 during an expedition crossing the Greenland ice cap. After his death new evidence from the ocean floor exploration and other studies led to the development of the plate tectonics.

The discovery of the plate tectonics have been to the Earth Sciences what the discovery of the structures of the the atoms was to Physics and Chemistry and what the theory of evolution was to the life sciences. Even though Wegener's theory is widely accepted in the scientific community it still continues to be debated. One of the questions scientists ask: What is the nature of the forces that propelled the plates? Scientists also debate how plate tectonics may have operated earlier in the earth's history and whether similar processes operate or have ever operated on the other planets in our solar system.

Theory of plate tectonics

The earth's interior. According to the theory of plate tectonics, the earth is made of rigid plates. A plate is a large, rigid slab of solid rock. The theory of plate tectonics states that the earth outermost layer is fragmented into a dozen or more large and small plates that are moving relative to one another as they ride atop hotter, more mobile material. These plates are moved by forces coming deep inside from the earth. The theory of plate tectonics originates from the knowledge of the earth's interior. It is not possible to reach the deeper interior of the earth. However the earthquake waves give us insight about the deep inside of the earth. The earthquake waves can be detected and measured far away from the location of the earthquake. The speed of the waves gives information about the rigidity and the density of the rocks. Measurement of the behavior of the earthquake waves reveals the general properties of the earth's interior. This analysis shows us that the earth is made up of three parts: a thin outer layer called crust, a second layer which is named mantle that has a thickness of 2870 km. At the center of the earth is located the core of spheric form with a diameter of 7060 km. The core is made up of the inner core and the outer core.

Each of different layers can be determined by the effects it has on the waves. As the waves enter the denser part of the core they bend. This creates a region on the surface where the earthquake is not felt. This region is called the shadow zone. Certain kinds of earthquake waves don't penetrate the outer core: it is made of liquid. The behavior of earthquake waves and the density of the earth make scientists believe that the inner core is made of heavy materials like iron and nickel. At the beginning of the earth's history and at its fusion stage heavy materials sink to make the core and the lighter materials make up the mantle and the crust.

The rock layer of the crust and that of the mantle create a boundary called the Mohorovicic discontinuity whose appellation originates from a Yugoslavian scientist. The crust and the upper part of the mantle constitute a region called the lithosphere. The softer part of the lithosphere is called asthenosphere. The mantle rock of the asthenosphere begins at a depth of 100 km and extends to a depth of 250 km. The melted rock of the asthenosphere flows like a very thick liquid. The movement of the crustal plate is believed to be caused by the slow movement of the mantle rock inside the asthenosphere.

Plate boundaries

According to the theory of plate tectonics the lithosphere is made of different plates. The region of junction of the plates is a zone of active changes in the lithosphere. The plate boundaries are divided in three kinds according to the way the plates are moving to each other. One kind of boundary happens when two plates move apart from each other. This type of boundary is located on the sea floor at the place of mid-ocean ridges. The gap is filled by molten rock raised from the asthenosphere. This process creates new sea floor moving in opposite direction from the mid-ocean ridges and is called sea floor spreading. Mid ocean ridges are found on the sea floor of every ocean of the globe.

When two plates are being pushed apart by sea floor spreading they collide with other plates. One plate is pushed down under the other. The region where this phenomenon takes place is called a subduction zone. At the collision of two plates they might also slide past each other..

Plate tectonics and the earth's magnetism

Sea floor spreading was one of the most important discoveries that led to the theory of plate tectonics. The earth's magnetism is a proof of sea floor spreading. The earth can be compared to a giant magnet. Let's determine some features of the earth's magnetism. Imagine a bar-shaped magnet buried at the center of the earth and tilted to the geographic pole. The points on the surface of the earth above the poles of the imaginary magnet are called magnetic poles. The magnetic axis form an angle with the earth axis. The measure of this angle is not 0 as evidenced by connecting the north and south poles. The needle of the compass used to determine directions doesn't always point in in the north geographic pole.

The angle between the direction of the geographic pole and that of the compass needle pointing direction is called magnetic declination. This latter is measured in degrees east or west of the geographic north pole. If the compass needle aligns with the geographic axis there is no declination. Magnetic declination has been determined for points of the earth because of its importance in navigation. Lines drawn to all points having equal declination are called isogonic lines. The line of zero declination is called the agonic line.

At this time there is no final explanation of the earth's magnetism. However it is believed that the slow movement ( independent of the earth rotation) of the liquid metal in the outer core create electrical currents that magnetize the inner core in the same way a bar of iron becomes magnetized when wrapped wires conducting electric current..Some kinds of minerals are affected by the earth's magnetism. In molten rock the crystals of these minerals line up in the direction of the earth's magnetic poles. When the rock cools and solidifies the crystals freeze showing the direction of the magnetic poles. Rocks formed millions of years showed records of the earth's magnetism at the time they were formed.

Study of the magnetic records in rocks have revealed two facts. First, the earth's magnetic poles while staying close to the the earth's geographic poles have shifted during the last billion of years. This shifting is the result of the movement of continents.. This evidence of magnetics in rocks can help scientists in tracing the movement of crustal plates in the past.. Another fact is that the earth's magnetism reverses itself from time to time..This means that the magnetic north and south poles change places. Magnetic evidence in rocks shows that at least nine reversals occurred during the last 3.5 million years. This phenomenon supports the idea of sea floor spreading and serves as a way of measuring the speed at which the crustal plates move apart.

When lava moves away from the mid-ocean ridge it hardens and moves away on either side on either side of the ridge. The lava becomes split into two narrow stripes. One stripe lies on each side of the ridge. The rocks in these stripes carry a record of the direction of the earth's magnetic poles at the time they were formed. Each reversal of the magnetic poles is shown by parallel striped magnetic patterns on each side of the ridge. Later the stripes of lava move away from the mid-ocean ridges carrying their magnetic record. The discovery of these magnetic stripes means that sea floor spreading almost certainly does occur. The rate at which new sea floor is spreading can be determined from the times of the magnetic reversals and the distance of the stripes from the mid-ocean ridges.

Movement of the earth's crust

Forces in the earth are able to break, bend and lift the most solid rocks. These forces were able in the past to lift sedimentary rocks from the sea floor to an elevation of many thousands meters above the sea level and depose them in the mountains. The evidence is showed by seashells and other remains of animals found on those mountains. Sedimentary rocks can be tilted and bent into arches and valleys by these same forces. The displacement of rock can be caused by tectonic plate movement and subduction,volcanic activity, etc. The features found in the earth's crust are the result of forces operating slowly during hundreds of millions of years.

'''Changes in the shape of the crust. Deforming rocks '''

Crustal forces can cause rocks to squeeze together or set apart. They can also cause layers of rock to slip past another.. When forces are applied to the rocks they start stretching and return to the original shape when the force is removed. However beyond a certain limit of the application of the forces rocks can bend and break.

Folding

If rocks are able to resist to forces without breaking they fold and the process is called folding. A fold can be defined a bend in rocks that is the response to compressional forces. The layers in folding rocks are pushed in layers that resemble waves on the water. A fold can be small or large. Large folds can raise mountains. A fold has two parts: the anticline and the syncline. The part that is raised is called anticline and the lowered part syncline. If the rock's surface was not constantly worn down, large folds in rocks would usually form ridges from the anticlines and valleys from the synclines. However the folds are often worn off as they develop. This action maintains the surface almost flat. When this happens the only evidence of folding is the tilt of the rock layers beneath the surface. When the anticline areas wear down they leave the syncline areas as ridge or mountain. Ridges formed from synclines and valleys that were originally anticlines are common in the Appalachian mountains. Rocks exposed at the earth's surface are constantly changing. As a result it is not always easy to find evidence that shows folding and other features of the rock structure in a region. Useful clues of identification of the rock structure of an area are found in sedimentary layers. The layers of a sedimentary rock are flat or horizontal. This layer may not be horizontal due to movement of the earth's crust. The angle formed by the tilt of the layer and the horizontal is called dip. The direction of the dip is called strike. When the dip and the strike of the rock layers in an area are known the rock structure beneath the surface can be determined. Example: a dip of a group of layers may show that they are part of a fold whose axis is not horizontal. The axis of a fold is an imaginary line running along the the top of an anticline or syncline. A fault whose axis is not horizontal is called a pitching.

Classification of Folds

A number of folds have been recognized and classified by geologists 1) The simplest type of fold is called a monocline. This is a fold where bending occurs in parallel layers of the rock 2) An anticline is a convex up fold in a rock that resembles an arch with the rock limbs dipping away from the center of the structure 3) A syncline is a fold where the rock layers are twisted downward. Both synclines and anticlines are the result of compressional stress. The rock layers dip toward the center of the fold and are roughly symmetrical. Ex: Synclinal folds in bedrock, near Saint-Godard-de-Lejeune, Canada. More complex fold types develop in situations where lateral pressure increases. The increasing pressure creates anticlines and synclines that are inclined and asymmetrical

Origins of the forces that deform the crust

According to the theory of plate tectonics, the earth's solid outer crust is made up of a series of moving plates that rub together, collide or spread apart. As a result of this movement stress is built among the rocks. This stress can cause the rocks to be deformed and to return to their origin place. It can cause the rock to fracture. Those fractures occur along the plate boundaries. Fracture is caused by stress built up quickly while folding is the result of stress built over many thousand years. Not all changes in the rocks are caused by the movement of crustal plates. Stress can also build because the solid lithosphere rests on the molten aesthenosphere below. A boat can float high or low in water according to its weight. According to the same principle the crust can rise or lower if its weight changes. Isostasy is the principle that states that the solid crust floats in a state of balance.

Faulting

Besides folding sudden and abrupt crustal movement can fracture or crack rocks. this phenomenon on rocks located near the surface where they are the least amount of pressure. If there is no movement between the sides of a fracture it is called a joint. The forces that cause fracture and joints can also force the sides of a fracture to slip against each other. When that happens it is called a fault.If the rocks along one side of the fault move horizontally the fault is called a strike-slip fault. If the movement is vertical in an upward or downward direction the fault is vertical. there are several kinds of vertical faults according to the way the rock blocks on each side of the fault move in relation to each other.

Definition of a fault

A fault is a planar fracture or discontinuity in a volume of a rock. Large faults are the result of the action of tectonic forces. Most earthquakes are caused by the energy released from the rapid movement on active faults. A fault line is the surface trace of a fault, the line of intersection between the fault plane and the Earth's surface. A fault zone is a zone of complex deformation associated with the fault plane. According to geologists, faults do not consist of a single and clean fracture. The two sides of a non-vertical fault are known as as the hanging wall and footwall. By definition the hanging wall occurs above the fault and the footwall occurs below the fault.

Definition of displacement

A displacement is the shortest distance from the initial and final position of a point P. It is the length of an imaginary straight path, distinct from the path traveled by P. A displacement vector represents the length and direction of that imaginary straight path.

Slip, heave and throw

A slip is the relative motion of the rock on each side of the fault with respect to the other side. The throw of the fault is the vertical component of the dip separation and the heave is the horizontal component.

Fault types

Faults are categorized in three groups:

1.Dip slip fault. A dip slip fault is the fault where the movement on the fault plane is approximately vertical.

2.Strike slip fault. A strike slip fault is a fault where the movement is horizontal.

3.Oblique-slip fault. An oblique slip fault is a strike and dip slip fault.

Dip-slip faults

They can be classified into 2 types: reverse and normal.

I Normal fault. They are also called extensional fault is a fault where the crust is extended. The hanging hall moves downward and the footwall moves upward. Normal faults are divided into three types:

1.Graben fault. It is a fault where terminal forces result in the subsidence of a block of rock. This downthrown block happens between 2 normal faults dipping towards each other. This is the combination of two normal faults where one block of rock is displaced downward.

2.Horst fault. This is the reverse of the graben fault. This is the combination of two reverse faults where the block of rock is pushed upwards. It is also defined as the situation where a block of rock is pushed up between two normal faults dipping away from each other.

3. Detachment fault. It is a low angle normal fault happening in region of tectonic significance.

'''II. Reverse fault'''. This is the reverse of normal fault. The hanging hall moves up and the foot wall moves down. Reverse fault indicates shortening of the crust. The dip of a reverse slip is relatively steep, greater than 45 degrees.

Thrust fault. It has the same sense of motion as in reverse fault with the dip of the fault plane at less than 45 degrees. Thrust faults typically form ramps,flats and fault-bend (hanging wall and foot wall) folds. Thrust faults form napes and klipen in the large thrust belts. Definition of napes and klipen? The fault plane is the plane that represents the fracture surface of a fault. Flat segments of thrust fault plane are known as flats and inclined sections of the thrust are known as ramps. Typically thrust faults move within formations by forming flats and climb-up section with ramps. Fault-bend folds are formed by movement of the hanging wall over a non-planar fault surface and are found associated with both extensional and thrust faults. Faults may be reactivated a later time with the movement in the opposite direction of the original movement (fault inversion). A normal fault may therefore become a reverse fault and vice-versa.

Tremor Definition

The earth's crust is always moving slowly. A small movement of the crust that may be felt or not is called tremor. There are more than six millions tremors each year.

Earthquake Definition

An earthquake is a sudden strong movement of the earth's crust. An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the earth's crust that create seismic waves.

'''Cause of earthquakes. Theory of elastic boundary'''

The walls of the sides of a fault move closely together. This movement causes blocks of rocks to slide tightly against each other. Pressure builds up slowly until the rocks bend and finally break. The abrupt release of this pressure causes a sudden slipping of blocks of rocks along the fault zone. The trembling and vibration of the rocks is called an earthquake. The theory of the explanation of the formation of the formation of earthquakes is called elastic rebound theory.

Elastic rebound theory

During the slow movement of blocks of rocks on the sides of a fault pressure resulting of this movement causes rocks to bend and stretch. When the pressure becomes too great the rocks break and rebound i.e snap back to their original shape. Energy is then released in the form of waves called earthquake waves. Earthquakes are also caused by volcanic activity, land slides, mine blasts and nuclear experiments. In geology, the elastic theory was the first to satisfactorily explain earthquakes. Previously it was thought that ruptures of the surface were the result of strong ground shaking rather than the converse suggested by this theory.

Where earthquakes happen

Earthquakes happen along the fault lines. Some fault lines lie above the places where the earth's plates meet. Many fault lines lie along the ocean bed but some lie on land. Ex: the San Enriquillo plantain garden fault that shares the republic of Haiti and the Dominican republic.

Focus and Epicenter

An earthquake's focus or hypocenter is the position where the strain energy stored in the rock is first released and is the point where the fault begins to rupture. The term epicenter refers to the point at ground level directly above the hypocenter.

Seismic waves

Seismic waves are waves of energy that travel through the core of the earth, for example as a result of an earthquake, explosion or some other process that imparts low frequency acoustic energy.

Types of seismic waves

During an earthquake shock the waves travel out from the focus in widening circles. Their movement is similar to the ripples made when a rock is thrown into quiet water. Earthquake waves are detected by an instrument called seismograph. Analysis of seismograph show that there are three types of earthquakes: primary waves, secondary waves and surface-long waves. The primary and secondary waves are called body waves because they travel through the body of the earth.

Primary waves

They are caused by a back-and-forth vibration of rock. They are longitudinal or compressional waves. In solids these waves travel twice as fast as S waves and travel at the speed of sound: 330m/s. In air these waves take the form of sound waves and travel at the speed of sound: 330m/s. In water they travel at 1450m/s.

Secondary waves

Secondary waves are caused by an up-and-down ( or side-to-side ) motion of the rock. Secondary waves are transverse or shear waves, which means that the ground is displaced perpendicularly to the direction of propagation. S waves can travel only through solids, as fluids ( liquids and gases ) do not support shear stresses. The speed is about 60% of that of P waves in a given material. S waves arrive second in a seismic station because of their slower speed.

Surface waves

Surface waves are created when either type of body waves reaches the surface. They are analogous to water waves and travel along the Earth's surface. They travel slower than body waves. Because of their low frequency, long duration and large amplitude they can be the most destructive type of seismic wave. There are two types of surface waves: Raleigh waves and Love waves.

Raleigh waves

Raleigh waves, also called ground roll, are surface waves that travel as ripples with motions that are similar to those of waves on the surface of water. They are slower than body waves and get their name from John William Strut, Lord Rayleigh in 1985.

Love waves

Love waves are surface waves that cause circular shearing of the ground. They are called after A.E.H Love, a British mathematician who created a mathematical model of the waves in 1911. They usually travel slightly faster than Rayleigh waves about 90% of the S wave velocity. They are the slowest and have the largest amplitude.

Richter scale

It measures the earthquake magnitude. Numbers from 1 to 8.6 are used to describe the magnitude. Each number indicates a greater release of energy. Each higher number indicates an energy about 30 times greater than the preceding number. Thus an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.5 releases an energy about 30 times greater than one with a magnitude of 4.5. The largest earthquake measured have a magnitude near 8.6. those with magnitude less than 2.5 are usually not felt by people in the area. Other consideration. On the Richter scale an earthquake is given a number between 1 and 9. It is a base 10 logarithmic scale obtained by calculating the logarithm of the combined horizontal amplitude ( shaking amplitude ) of the largest displacement from zero on a particular seismometer. For example an earthquake that measures 5.0 on the Richter scale has a shaking amplitude 10 times larger than one that measures 4.0.

Mercalli scale

It was developed in 1902. It starts with the number 1 intensity described as so slight that it can be barely felt. The numbers go as high as 12, which indicates total destruction. It is used to measure the intensity of the earthquake.

Moment magnitude scale

The moment magnitude is used by seismologists to measure the size of earthquakes in terms of the energy released. The magnitude is based on the moment of the earthquake, which is equal to the rigidity of the earth multiplied by the average amount of slip of the fault and the size of the area that slipped. the scale was developed in the 107o's to succeed the 1930's era Richter magnitude scale. The MMS is now the scale to estimate magnitude for all modern large earthquakes by the U.S Geological Survey

Seismes: Questions Frequentes (FAQ)

1. Pourquoi y a-t-il des tremblements de terre? La couche superficielle de la terre, la croûte terrestre, est composée de plaques dites tectoniques, ces plaques se déplacent les unes par rapport aux autres. Aux limites des plaques, les tensions sont très importantes. Les séismes sont le résultat de cassures soudaines provoquées lorsque les contraintes accumulées excèdent la résistance de la roche. 2. Quelle est la cause des tremblements de terre en Suisse? La collision entre la plaque africaine (dont font partie l'Italie et une partie de l'Adriatique) se déplaçant vers le nord et le continent eurasien a entraîné la formation des Alpes. Ce processus géologique engendre l'activité sismique relativement forte que l'on rencontre dans les Alpes. Lorsque les contraintes sont trop fortes, il y a occurence de tremblements de terre. 3. Comment exprime-t'on la force d'un tremblement de terre? Pour chaque séisme, on peut calculer la magnitude, qui est une mesure de l'énergie libérée à la source (foyer) du séisme. Les magnitudes sont liées à l'échelle de Richter. L'évaluation des effets d'un séisme à la surface de la terre est décrite par l'échelle d'intensité. La plus utilisée en Europe est l'Europeen Macroseismic Scale qui a 12 degrès. Ils vont de I pour un séisme non ressenti à XII pour un provoquant des destructions totales. Un séisme jusqu'à une magnitude de 3.5 est considéré comme faible, de 3.5 à 6.0 moyen et au dessus de 6.0 comme fort. 4. A partir de quelle magnitude ressent-on un tremblement de terre? En général on peut ressentir un séisme à partir d'une magnitude de 3 ou même 2.5 lorsqu'on se trouve proche de l'épicentre. Les séismes de magnitude 4 à 5 peuvent être ressentis dans un rayon jusqu'à 200km, au dessus de la magnitude 5, à plusieurs centaines de km. Des séismes au dessous de 2 ont déjà été ressentis, la profondeur du foyer était trés superficielle. 5. Quel a été le tremblement de terre le plus fort? Le tremblement de terre du Chili de 1960 qui a atteint une magnitude de 9.6 est le plus fort séisme de ce dernier siècle. La faille concernée a dépassé les 1500km de long. Vous pouvez consulter la page web des séismes les plus fort depuis 1900. 6. Combien y a t-il de répliques aprés un tremblement de terre? Après un fort tremblement de terre, il y peut y avoir plus d'un millier de répliques. Ce sont des plus petits séismes qui proviennent du 'réajustement' de la faille. La plupart ne sont pas ressentis. Avec le temps (des semaines et/ou des mois) leur nombre et leur quantité diminuent. 7. Peut-on prédire les tremblements de terre? Les tremblements de terre ne peuvent pas être prédits mais l'on peut déterminer des zones où la probabilité d'occurence de tremblement de terre est plus ou moins importante. 8. Peut-on prédire les tremblements de terre en observant le comportement des animaux? Certes les animaux sont très sensibles, mais aucune prédiction fiable n'a pu être obtenue par l'observation du comportement des animaux ni par des mesures de phénomènes physiques précurseurs. 9. Comment peut-on se protéger des tremblements de terre? Les tremblements de terre ne sont pas en soi dangereux mais les bâtiments qui, endommagés, peuvent provoquer des pertes importantes. L'évaluation du risque sismique lors de la planification des ouvrages est nécéssaire et le respect des normes de construction est indispensable. 10. Comment dois-je réagir lors d'un tremblement de terre? Voici quelques règles de base: 11. Qu'est-ce le CTBT (Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty)? Le 10 septembre 1996, l'assemblée générale de l'ONU a décidé d'interdire les tests d'explosions nucléaires. CTBT est l'abrégé en anglais du 'Traité d'interdiction complète des essais nucléaires'.
 * Lorsque vous êtes dans un bâtiment, restez à l'intérieur, éloignez-vous des fenêtres. Placez-vous sous un cadre de porte ou sous un meuble massif (lit, table).
 * Si vous êtes à l'extérieur, éloignez-vous des bâtiments et des câbles électriques.
 * En voiture, arrêtez-vous prudemment. Faites attention de ne pas vous trouver sur un pont, sous un arbre etc. Restez dans la voiture jusqu'à ce que les secousses soient passées.
 * En montagne, observez les alentours. Sur les pentes instables, des chutes de pierres, des glissement de terrain, des chutes d'arbres sont possibles.

Significant Earthquakes of the World 2010

March 7, 2011

SIGNIFICANT EARTHQUAKES OF THE WORLD, 2010

Earthquakes of magnitude 6.5 or greater or ones that caused fatalities, injuries or substantial damage. BRK--Berkeley. PAS--Pasadena.

DATE ORIGIN TIME      GEOGRAPHIC       DEPTH  MAG   SD  NO.           REGION, ADDITIONAL MAGNITUDES AND COMMENTS UTC      UTC         COORDINATES                        STA HR MN SEC    LAT       LONG                      USED

JAN 03 21 48 05.3   8.743 S  157.477 E   26 G  6.6  1.2  284  SOLOMON ISLANDS. MW 6.6 (UCMT), 6.6 (GCMT), 6.5 (WCMT). mb 6.0 (GS). MS 6.4 (GS). Mo 9.5*10**18 Nm (UCMT), 1.0*10**19 Nm                                                                (GCMT), 7.9*10**18 Nm (WCMT), 1.4*10**19 Nm (PPT). Felt at Gizo and Honiara. A small tsunami with a wave height (peak-to-trough) of less than 2 cm was recorded at Honiara.

JAN 03 22 36 27.9   8.799 S  157.346 E   25 G  7.1  1.1  380  SOLOMON ISLANDS. MW 7.1 (GCMT), 7.1 (WCMT), 7.0 (UCMT). mb 6.4 (GS). MS 7.1 (GS). Mo 5.3*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 6.3*10**19 Nm                                                                (WCMT), 4.3*10**19 Nm (UCMT), 5.9*10**19 Nm (PPT). Sixteen homes destroyed, at least 60 damaged and 1,000 people left homeless on                                                                Rendova. Some of the damage was caused by a tsunami, with a                                                                runup height of 2-3 m on Rendova. Felt (VI) at Gizo. The tsunami was recorded at the following tide stations with these wave heights (peak-to-trough): 2 cm at Cape Ferguson and 15 cm at                                                                Rosslyn Bay, Australia; 13 cm at Honiara, Solomon Islands; 1 cm                                                                 at Luganville, Vanuatu.

JAN 05 04 55 38.9  58.173 S   14.696 W   10 G  6.8  1.2  198  EAST OF THE SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS. MW 6.8 (UCMT), 6.8 (GCMT), 6.7 (GS), 6.8 (WCMT). mb 6.2 (GS). MS 6.5 (GS). Mo 1.8*10**19 Nm                                                                (GCMT), 1.7*10**19 Nm (UCMT), 1.5*10**19 Nm (GS), 2.2*10**19 Nm                                                                 (WCMT), 2.7*10**19 Nm (PPT).

JAN 05 12 15 32.2   9.019 S  157.551 E   15    6.8  1.2  338  SOLOMON ISLANDS. MW 6.8 (UCMT), 6.8 (GCMT), 6.8 (WCMT). mb 6.2 (GS). MS 6.7 (GS). Mo 2.0*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 2.3*10**19 Nm                                                                (WCMT), 1.9*10**19 Nm (UCMT), 1.6*10**19 Nm (PPT). Felt (II) at                                                                Honiara. A 3 cm tsunami was recorded at Honiara.

JAN 10 00 25 04.2   7.907 S  107.879 E   65    5.1  1.2  155  JAVA, INDONESIA. mb 5.1 (GS). One person died from a heart attack in Garut and two people injured at Kampungbaru. Felt (V) at                                                                Garut; (IV) at Bandung, Ciamis and Pangandaran; (III) at                                                                 Cianjur. Also felt at Bogor and Ciampea.

JAN 10 00 27 39.3& 40.652 N  124.692 W   29    6.5       330  OFFSHORE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. . MW 6.5 (UCMT), 6.5 (GCMT), 6.4 (GS), 6.5 (WCMT), 6.5 (BRK). mb 6.5 (GS). MS 6.3 (GS). ME                                                                7.0 (GS). Mo 7.3*10**18 Nm (GCMT), 4.8*10**18 Nm (GS), 7.6*10**18 Nm (WCMT), 6.9*10**18 Nm (UCMT), 8.4*10**18 Nm (PPT), 7.1*10**18 Nm (BRK). Es 6.8*10**14 Nm (GS). About 30 people injured and moderate damage to hundreds of homes and buildings in the Eureka-Ferndale area. Felt (VII) at Eureka, Ferndale and Samoa; (VI) at Bayside, Fortuna, Loleta and Rio Dell; (V) at                                                                Arcata, Blue Lake, Carlotta, Hydesville, Kneeland, Korbel, McKinleyville, Petrolia, Scotia, Somes Bar and Whitethorn. Felt widely in northern California and southwestern Oregon and as far as Hollister, California; Reno, Nevada; Portland, Oregon.

JAN 12 21 53 10.0  18.443 N   72.571 W   13 G  7.0  1.0  500  HAITI REGION. MW 7.0 (GS), 7.0 (UCMT), 7.0 (GCMT), 7.0 (WCMT). mb                                                                   6.8 (GS). MS 7.3 (GS). ME 7.6 (GS). Mo 4.7*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 4.5*10**19 Nm (UCMT), 4.4*10**19 Nm (GS), 4.4*10**19 Nm (WCMT), 5.0*10**19 Nm (PPT). Es 5.4*10**15 Nm (GS). According to                                                                official estimates, 222,570 people killed, 300,000 injured, 1.3 million displaced, 97,294 houses destroyed and 188,383 damaged in the Port-au-Prince area and in much of southern Haiti. This includes at least 4 people killed by a local tsunami in the Petit Paradis area near Leogane. Tsunami waves were also reported at Jacmel, Les Cayes, Petit Goave, Leogane, Luly and Anse a Galets. The tsunami had recorded wave heights (peak-to-                                                               trough) of 12 cm at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and 2 cm                                                                 at Christiansted, US Virgin Islands. Uplift was observed along the coast from Leogane to L'Acul and subsidence was observed along the coast from Grand Trou to Port Royal. Felt (VII) at                                                                Port-au-Prince and Petionville and (V) at Vieux Bourg d'Aquin and Port-de-Paix. Felt (V) at La Vega, Moca and San Cristobal; (IV) at Puerto Plata, Santiago, Santo Domingo and Sosua, Dominican Republic. Felt throughout Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Felt (III) at Oranjestad, Aruba; (IV) at Santiago de                                                                Cuba and (III) at Guantanamo, Cuba; (II) in the Kingston-Mona area, Jamaica; (III) at Cockburn Harbour and (II) at Cockburn Town, Turks and Caicos Islands; (II) at Caracas, Venezuela. Felt in parts of The Bahamas, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands and as far as southern Florida, northern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela.

JAN 15 18 00 46.7  10.454 N   63.475 W    8    5.5  1.1  325  SUCRE, VENEZUELA. MW 5.5 (UCMT), 5.5 (GCMT), 5.4 (CAR). mb 5.4 (GS). MS 5.2 (GS). Mo 2.6*10**17 Nm (UCMT), 2.6*10**17 Nm                                                                (GCMT). Eleven people injured and three houses damaged at                                                                Cariaco. Felt (IV) at Barcelona and Cumana; (III) at Ciudad Guayana, Porlamar and Puerto La Cruz; (II) at Caracas. Also felt at Acarigua, Carupano, La Asuncion, Maturin and Patare. Felt at                                                                Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.

JAN 17 09 37 26.1  25.558 N  105.804 E   27    4.4  0.7   27  GUIZHOU, CHINA. mb 4.4 (GS). At least 7 people killed, 9 injured and 1 missing after 2 landslides occurred in Guizhou.

JAN 30 21 36 58.0  30.268 N  105.668 E   10 G  5.1  1.0  137  EASTERN SICHUAN, CHINA. mb 5.1 (GS). MS 4.7 (GS). One person killed, 15 injured, more than 100 homes destroyed and thousands damaged in Moxi.

FEB 18 01 13 19.5  42.587 N  130.703 E  578    6.9  1.4  524  CHINA-RUSSIA-NORTH KOREA BORDER REGION. MW 6.9 (GS), 6.9 (GCMT), 6.8 (UCMT), 6.8 (WCMT). mb 6.3 (GS). Mo 2.7*10**19 Nm (GS), 2.6*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 2.3*10**19 Nm (UCMT), 2.3*10**19 Nm                                                                (WCMT). Recorded (2 JMA) in southeastern Hokkaido and (1 JMA) in                                                                northern and southern Hokkaido, Japan. Also recorded (2 JMA) in                                                                Aomori, Ishikawa, Iwate, Miyagi and Saitama; (1 JMA) in Akita, Chiba, Fukui, Fukushima, Gumma, Ibaraki, Kanagawa and Tokyo, Honshu.

FEB 25 04 56 51.9  25.523 N  101.903 E   10 G  5.2  0.9  176  YUNNAN, CHINA. mb 5.2 (GS). Eleven people injured and houses damaged in Yunnan. Felt (II) at Kunming.

FEB 26 20 31 26.9  25.930 N  128.425 E   25 G  7.0  1.0  487  RYUKYU ISLANDS, JAPAN. MW 7.0 (UCMT), 7.0 (GCMT), 6.9 (GS), 7.0 (WCMT). mb 6.7 (GS). MS 7.0 (GS). Mo 3.6*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 3.4*10**19 Nm (UCMT), 3.2*10**19 Nm (GS), 3.4*10**19 Nm (WCMT), 3.4*10**19 Nm (PPT). Felt (V) on Okinawa. Also felt at Taipei and T'ao-yuan, Taiwan. Recorded (5L JMA) on Okinawa; (4 JMA) in                                                                the Kerama-retto and on Kitadaito and Yoron-jima; (3 JMA) on                                                                 Aguni-jima, Amami-oshima, Ie-jima, Iheya-shima, Izena-shima, Kikaiga-shima, Kume-jima, Minamidaito-jima, Okino-erabu-shima, Tokuno-shima, Tonaki-jima, Uke-jima and Yoro-jima; (2 JMA) on                                                                Akuseki-jima, Kareroma-jima, Miyako-jima and Suwanose-jima; (1                                                                 JMA) on Iriomote-jima, Ishigaki-jima, Tanega-shima, Tarama-shima and Yaku-shima. Also recorded (1 JMA) in Kagoshima, Kumamoto and Miyazaki, Kyushu.

FEB 27 06 34 11.5  36.122 S   72.898 W   23    8.8  1.1  454  OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE. MW 8.8 (UCMT), 8.8 (GCMT), 8.8 (WCMT). mb 7.2 (GS). MS 8.5 (GS). ME 8.2 (GS). Mo 1.8*10**22 Nm (GCMT), 2.0*10**22 Nm (WCMT), 1.8*10**22 Nm (UCMT), 8.4*10**21 Nm (PPT). Es 4.7*10**16 Nm (GS). At least 521 people killed, 56 missing, about 12,000 injured, 800,000 displaced and at least 370,000 houses, 4,013 schools, 79 hospitals and 4,200 boats damaged or                                                                destroyed by the earthquake and tsunami in the Valparaiso- Concepcion-Temuco area. At least 1.8 million people affected in                                                                Araucania, Bio-Bio, Maule, O'Higgins, Region Metropolitana and Valparaiso. The total economic loss in Chile was estimated at 30 billion US dollars. Electricity, telecommunications and water supplies were disrupted and the airports at Concepcion and Santiago had minor damage. The tsunami damaged or destroyed many buildings and roads at Concepcion, Constitucion, Dichato and Pichilemu and also damaged boats and a dock in the San Diego area, USA. Maximum acceleration of 0.65g was recorded at                                                                Concepcion and more than 2 m of uplift along the coast was observed near Arauco. Felt (IX) at Concepcion; (VIII) at                                                                Chiguayante, Coronel, Lebu, Nacimiento, Penco, Rancagua, Santiago, San Vicente, Talca, Temuco and Tome; (VII) from La                                                                Ligua to Villarrica; (VI) as far as Ovalle and Valdivia. Felt in                                                                Chile as far as Iquique and Punta Arenas. Felt (V) at Cutral-Co and San Juan, (IV) at Cordoba and Mendoza and (III) at Buenos Aires, Argentina and (II) at Sao Paulo, Brazil. Felt in much of                                                                Argentina and in parts of Bolivia, southern Brazil, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. Seiches were observed on Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, USA. A Pacific-wide tsunami was generated. Tsunami wave heights in centimeters (above sea level) were recorded at                                                                the following selected tide gauges: 71 at Pago Pago, American Samoa; 22 at Winter Harbour, Canada; 261 at Valparaiso, 181 at                                                                Talcahuano, 164 at Coquimbo, 144 at Corral, 118 at Arica, 90 at                                                                 Caldera, 79 at San Felix, 68 at Iquique, 47 at Antofagasta and 40 at San Pedro, Chile; 33 at Rarotonga, Cook Islands; 105 at                                                                Santa Cruz and 41 at Baltra, Ecuador; 32 at Rikitea, French Polynesia; 95 at Hanasaki, 40 at Ofunato and 30 at Naha, Japan; 21 on Johnston Island; 15 on Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands; 32 on Midway Island; 65.5 at Acapulco and 35.9 at Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; 117 at Gisborne, 101 on Chatham Island, 98 at                                                                Owenga and 50 on Raoul Island, New Zealand; 37 at Manus, Papua New Guinea; 69 at Callao, Peru; 16 at Currimao, Philippines; 42 at Apia, Samoa; 63 at King Cove, 42 on Atka, 39 at Seward, 39 on                                                                Shemya, 36 at Kodiak, 36 at Yakutat and 23 at Craig, Alaska, USA; 91 at Santa Barbara, 64 at Crescent City, 60 at La Jolla and 46 at Point Reyes, California; 86 at Kahului, 51 at                                                                Kawaihae, 40 at Nawiliwili and 26 at Honolulu, Hawaii; 32 at                                                                 Port Orford, Oregon; 23 at Neah Bay, Washington.

FEB 27 08 01 23.0  37.773 S   75.048 W   35 G  6.9  1.1  409  OFF THE COAST OF BIO-BIO, CHILE. mb 6.9 (GS).

FEB 27 15 45 37.0& 24.872 S   65.602 W   10    6.3       376  SALTA, ARGENTINA. . mb 6.3 (GS). MD 6.1 (SJA). Two people killed and two injured in the Salta area. Felt (V) at Cordoba and Salta and (IV) at San Miguel de Tucuman and San Salvador de                                                                Jujuy. Also felt at Libertador General San Martin, Mendoza, San Pedro and Santa Fe. Felt (II) at Asuncion, Paraguay. Felt at                                                                Antofagasta and Calama, Chile and at Tarija, Bolivia.

MAR 04 00 18 51.2  22.918 N  120.795 E   21 G  6.3  0.9  326  TAIWAN. MW 6.3 (GCMT), 6.2 (GS), 6.2 (UCMT), 6.2 (WCMT), 6.1 (RMT). mb 6.2 (GS). MS 6.2 (GS). ME 5.9 (GS). ML 6.4 (TAP). Mo                                                                3.1*10**18 Nm (GCMT), 2.2*10**18 Nm (GS), 2.6*10**18 Nm (WCMT), 2.3*10**18 Nm (UCMT), 1.9*10**18 Nm (RMT). Es 1.7*10**13 Nm                                                                (GS). Ninety-six people injured and one bridge damaged in Kao- hsiung. At least 340 buildings, including historical sites, damaged throughout the island. Felt (VI) at Yung-kang; (V) at                                                                Chao-chou, Chia-i, Hsin-ying, Kao-hsiung and Tai-nan; (IV) at                                                                 Chang-hua, Hsin-chu, P'ing-tung and T'ai-chung; (III) at Hsin- tien, Tao-yuan and Taipei; (II) at Chung-liao. Also felt at Chih- shan, Chu-pei, Kang-shan, Kincheng, Ma-kung, Pan-chiao, Pu-li, San-hsia, Shu-lin, Tan-shui, Tou-liu and Yung-ho. Felt (III) at                                                                Fuzhou and (II) at Xiamen, Fujian. Also felt at Jiaocheng. Felt in Hong Kong and (II) at Ningbo, Zhejiang. Felt at Basco, Philippines. Recorded (6 TAP) in Chia-i and Tai-nan; (5 TAP) in                                                                Kao-hsiung, Ping-tung, Tai-tung and Yun-lin; (4 TAP) in Chang- hua, Nan-tou and Tai-chung; (3 TAP) in Hua-lien, I-lan, Miao-li and P'eng-hu; (2 TAP) in Hsin-chu, Tai-pei and Tao-yuan; (1 TAP) in Chin-men and Lien-chiang, Taiwan.

MAR 04 14 02 27.5  13.571 S  167.227 E  176 G  6.5  1.0  426  VANUATU. MW 6.5 (GS), 6.4 (UCMT), 6.4 (GCMT), 6.4 (WCMT). mb 6.0 (GS). Mo 6.8*10**18 Nm (GS), 5.6*10**18 Nm (GCMT), 5.3*10**18 Nm                                                                (UCMT), 5.2*10**18 Nm (WCMT), 7.1*10**18 Nm (PPT). Felt at                                                                Luganville.

MAR 05 11 47 06.8  36.665 S   73.374 W   18 G  6.6  0.9  255  OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE. MW 6.6 (GS), 6.6 (GCMT), 6.6 (WCMT), 6.5 (UCMT). mb 6.1 (GS). MS 6.7 (GS). ME 6.1 (GS). ML 6.5 (GUC). Mo                                                                8.7*10**18 Nm (GS), 1.1*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 8.6*10**18 Nm (WCMT), 7.3*10**18 Nm (UCMT), 1.3*10**19 Nm (PPT). Es 2.8*10**13 Nm                                                                (GS). Felt (VII) at Concepcion; (VI) at Chiguayante and Chillan; (V) at Angol and Los Angeles; (IV) at Constitucion; (III) at                                                                Santiago, Temuco and Valdivia. Also felt at Bulnes, Coihaique, Coronel, La Laja, Linares, Penaflor, Puerto Varas, San Carlos, Talca, Talcahuano, Vilcun and Villarrica. Felt (II) at Buenos Aires, Argentina. Also felt at Comodoro Rivadavia, Cutral-Co, Mendoza, Neuquen, San Carlos de Bariloche and Santa Rosa.

MAR 05 16 07 00.6   3.762 S  100.991 E   26 G  6.8  1.1  401  KEPULAUAN MENTAWAI REGION, INDONESIA. MW 6.8 (UCMT), 6.7 (GCMT), 6.5 (GS), 6.7 (WCMT). mb 6.0 (GS). MS 6.6 (GS). ME 6.1 (GS). Mo                                                                7.3*10**18 Nm (GS), 2.3*10**19 Nm (UCMT), 1.6*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 1.2*10**19 Nm (WCMT). Es 2.7*10**13 Nm (GS). Felt (II) at                                                                Bengkulu and Padang, Sumatra. Also felt at Jambi and at Jakarta, Java. Felt at Petaling Jaya, Malaysia and (II) in Singapore.

MAR 08 02 32 34.7  38.864 N   39.986 E   12 G  6.1  0.8  379  EASTERN TURKEY. MW 6.1 (UCMT), 6.1 (GCMT), 5.9 (GS), 6.0 (WCMT). mb 5.9 (GS). MS 6.0 (GS). ME 6.3 (GS). ML 6.0 (ISK). Mo                                                                9.4*10**17 Nm (GS), 1.8*10**18 Nm (UCMT), 1.6*10**18 Nm (GCMT), 1.3*10**18 Nm (WCMT). Es 5.6*10**13 Nm (GS). At least 51 people killed, 100 injured and 3,500 displaced, 287 buildings destroyed and 700 heavily damaged in the Basyurt-Demirci-Kovancilar- Okcular area. Felt (VI) at Elazig, (V) at Diyarbakir, (IV) at                                                                Gaziantep and Siirt, (III) at Erzurum and (II) at Ankara and Trabzon. Felt widely in eastern Turkey. Felt (III) at Mosul, Iraq. Also felt at Arbil and Sinjar. Felt (II) at Aleppo, Syria. Also felt at Al Qamishli, Manbij, Nubl and Ra's al `Ayn.

MAR 11 14 39 43.9  34.290 S   71.891 W   11 G  6.9  0.9  415  LIBERTADOR O'HIGGINS, CHILE. MW 6.9 (UCMT), 6.9 (GCMT), 6.8 (GS), 6.8 (WCMT). mb 6.7 (GS). MS 7.0 (GS). ME 7.1 (GS). Mo 2.5*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 2.4*10**19 Nm (UCMT), 1.7*10**19 Nm (GS), 2.1*10**19 Nm (WCMT), 4.3*10**19 Nm (PPT). Es 9.5*10**14 Nm (GS). Some damage (VII) at Rancagua. Felt (VI) at Curico, Santiago, San Vicente and Talca; (V) at Buin, Calera, Chillan, Colina, Concepcion, Melipilla, San Antonio, San Fernando and Valparaiso; (IV) at Angol, Limache, Los Andes, Penaflor, Petorca, Puente Alto, Quillota, Quilpue, San Bernardo, Temuco, Villa Alemana and Vina del Mar. Felt in much of central and southern Chile as far as La Serena and Coihaique. Felt (V) at San Rafael, (IV) at                                                                Cordoba, (III) at Mendoza and (II) at Buenos Aires, Argentina. Felt at Montevideo, Uruguay and (II) at Asuncion, Paraguay. A                                                                small tsunami was recorded with wave heights (peak-to-trough) of                                                                 29 cm at San Antonio and 16 cm at Valparaiso.

MAR 11 14 55 27.5  34.326 S   71.799 W   18 G  6.7  1.0  403  LIBERTADOR O'HIGGINS, CHILE. MW 6.7 (WCMT). mb 6.5 (GS). ML 6.4 (GUC). Mo 1.2*10**19 Nm (WCMT). Felt (V) at Talca; (IV) at San Fernando, Santiago and Vina del Mar; (III) at Rancagua; (II) at                                                                Quillota, San Antonio and Valparaiso. Also felt at Buin, Chillan, Concepcion, Constitution, Curico, Machali, Puente Alto, Quilpue, San Bernardo, San Felipe, San Fernando and Talagante. Felt (III) at Mendoza, Argentina. Also felt at Bariloche, Cordoba, San Juan and San Rafael. Felt at Asuncion, Paraguay.

MAR 14 08 08 03.9  37.745 N  141.590 E   32 G  6.5  0.8  491  NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN. MW 6.5 (UCMT), 6.5 (GCMT), 6.4 (GS), 6.5 (WCMT). mb 6.3 (GS). MS 6.4 (GS). ME 6.6 (GS). Mo                                                                8.1*10**18 Nm (GCMT), 7.9*10**18 Nm (UCMT), 5.3*10**18 Nm (GS), 6.5*10**18 Nm (WCMT), 8.7*10**18 Nm (PPT). Es 1.7*10**14 Nm                                                                (GS). Felt (IV) at Kitakami and Sendai; (III) at Ayase, Misawa, Tokyo, Yokohama and Yokosuka; (II) at Hamura. Widely felt on                                                                Honshu. Recorded (5L JMA) in Fukushima; (4 JMA) in Iwate, Miyagi and Tochigi; (3 JMA) in Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Gumma, Ibaraki, Kanagawa, Niigata, Saitama, Tokyo, Yamagata and Yamanashi; (2                                                                JMA) in Nagano and Shizuoka; (1 JMA) in Aichi, Gifu, Ishikawa and Shiga. Also recorded (2 JMA) in southern and southwestern Hokkaido and (1 JMA) in central and eastern Hokkaido. Recorded (1 JMA) on Hachijo-jima, Miyake-jima, O-shima and Sadoga-shima.

MAR 16 02 21 57.9  36.217 S   73.257 W   18 G  6.7  0.9  312  OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE. MW 6.7 (UCMT), 6.6 (GCMT), 6.5 (GS), 6.7 (WCMT). mb 6.0 (GS). MS 6.7 (GS). ME 6.3 (GS). ML 6.7 (GUC). Mo                                                                8.3*10**18 Nm (GS), 1.1*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 1.5*10**19 Nm (WCMT), 1.2*10**19 Nm (UCMT), 1.2*10**19 Nm (PPT). Es 6.1*10**13 Nm                                                                (GS). Felt (VI) at Concepcion; (V) at Chiguayante, Curico, Parral, San Clemente, San Javier, Talca, Talcahuano and Temuco; (IV) at Angol, Chillan, Coronel, Linares, Los Angeles, Pichilemu, Rancagua and Tome; (II) at Corral, Lanco, Puente Alto, San Fernando, Santiago, Valdivia, Villarrica and Vina del Mar. Felt as far as La Serena and Osorno. Felt (III) at Neuquen and (II) at Mendoza, Argentina. Also felt at San Rafael.

MAR 20 14 00 49.9   3.361 S  152.245 E  415 D  6.6  0.9  519  NEW IRELAND REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA. MW 6.6 (GCMT), 6.5 (GS), 6.5 (UCMT), 6.5 (WCMT). mb 6.0 (GS). Mo 8.9*10**18 Nm (GCMT), 8.4*10**18 Nm (UCMT), 8.3*10**18 Nm (GS), 7.6*10**18 Nm (WCMT), 6.7*10**18 Nm (PPT).

MAR 30 16 54 46.7  13.667 N   92.831 E   34    6.7  0.9  413  ANDAMAN ISLANDS, INDIA REGION. MW 6.7 (GCMT), 6.6 (UCMT), 6.4 (GS), 6.6 (WCMT). mb 6.5 (GS). MS 6.3 (GS). Mo 5.6*10**18 Nm                                                                (GS), 1.2*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 9.6*10**18 Nm (WCMT), 1.1*10**19 Nm                                                                 (UCMT). At least 10 people injured by jumping from buildings and many buldings damaged slightly at Diglipur. Landslides occurred in the Diglipur area. Felt (V) at Bombuflat; (IV) at Port Blair and Vishakhapatnam; (III) at Bhubaneswar; (II) at Calcutta and Dhaka. Also felt at Bangalore, Chetput, Choudwar, Haldia and Jajpur. Felt at Barguna, Chattagam and Dhaka, Bangladesh and at                                                                Rangoon, Myanmar.

APR 04 22 40 43.1& 32.297 N  115.278 W    4 G  7.2       406  BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO. . MW 7.2 (UCMT), 7.2 (GCMT), 7.2 (WCMT), 6.9 (PAS). mb 6.4 (GS). MS 7.3 (GS). ME 6.8 (GS). Mo                                                                8.5*10**19 Nm (UCMT), 7.3*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 6.8*10**19 Nm                                                                 (WCMT), 5.6*10**19 Nm (PPT), 2.8*10**19 Nm (PAS). Es 3.7*10**14 Nm (GS). Two people killed, at least 233 injured and many buildings damaged (VII) in the Mexicali area. Felt (VII) at                                                                Guadalupe Victoria and (V) at El Sauzal, Ensenada, Maneadero, Primo Tapia, San Felipe, Tecate and Tijuana. Felt (VI) at San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora. Felt in much of Baja California and northwestern Sonora and as far as Aguascalientes, Ciudad Juarez and La Paz. About 28 km of surface faulting observed on the Borrego Fault southwest of Mexicali. Many buildings damaged (VII) at Calexico and Imperial, California. Felt (VII) at El                                                                Centro and Heber; (VI) at Brawley, Calipatria, Holtville and Ocotillo; (V) at Borrego Springs, Boulevard, Campo, Chula Vista, Coachella, Coronado, Jacumba, Lemon Grove, Los Angeles, Niland, Pine Valley, San Diego, San Ysidro, Tecate, Thermal, Westmorland and Winterhaven. Felt (V) at Somerton, Wellton and Yuma, Arizona. Felt throughout southern California, in much of                                                                Arizona, in the Henderson-Las Vegas area, Nevada and in parts of                                                                 New Mexico and Utah.

APR 06 22 15 01.5   2.383 N   97.048 E   31 G  7.8  1.2  352  NORTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA. MW 7.8 (GCMT), 7.7 (WCMT). mb 7.0 (GS). MS 7.9 (GS). ME 7.5 (GS). Mo 5.6*10**20 Nm (GCMT), 3.9*10**20 Nm (WCMT), 2.2*10**20 Nm (PPT). Es 3.4*10**15 Nm                                                                (GS). Felt (V) at Meulaboh and Sibolga; (IV) at Banda Aceh and Medan; (III) at Padangsidempuan, Samosir and Tarutung. Also felt at Belawan, Duri, Lhokseumawe and Padang. Felt at Bandung and Jakarta, Java and at Kuta, Bali. Felt (IV) at Butterworth and Perai; (III) at Ayer Itam, Gelugor Estate, George Town, Sungai Ara and Tanjong Bunga Estate; (II) at Banting, Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya and Tanjong Malim, Malaysia. Felt along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and (II) in Singapore. Also felt at                                                                Male, Maldives. A tsunami was recorded along the coast of                                                                Sumatra with heights (center-to-peak) at the following tide stations: 44 cm at Meulaboh, 19 cm at Sibolga, 17 cm at                                                                Telukdalam, 7 cm at Padang and 7 cm on Pulau Tanahbalah.

APR 11 09 40 25.6  10.878 S  161.116 E   21 G  6.8  1.0  399  SOLOMON ISLANDS. MW 6.8 (UCMT), 6.8 (GCMT), 6.8 (WCMT). mb 6.6 (GS). MS 7.0 (GS). ME 6.7 (GS). Mo 2.2*10**19 Nm (UCMT), 2.2*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 2.0*10**19 Nm (WCMT), 9.6*10**18 Nm (PPT). Es 2.5*10**14 Nm (GS). Felt (III) at Honiara. Also felt at Auki.

APR 13 23 49 38.3  33.165 N   96.548 E   17 G  6.9  1.3  410  SOUTHERN QINGHAI, CHINA. MW 6.9 (UCMT), 6.9 (GCMT), 6.7 (GS), 6.8 (WCMT). mb 6.5 (GS). MS 7.0 (GS). ME 7.5 (GS). Mo 2.5*10**19 Nm                                                                (UCMT), 2.5*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 1.3*10**19 Nm (GS), 2.0*10**19 Nm                                                                 (WCMT), 3.2*10**19 Nm (PPT). Es 3.7*10**15 Nm (GS). At least 2,220 people killed, 70 missing, 12,135 injured and 15,000 buildings damaged in the Yushu area. Felt (IV) at Lhasa, Qiaotou and Xining; (II) at Baojishan, Lanzhou and Urumqi. Felt at Aksu, Dazhou, Jinchang, Ya'an, Yumen Dong Zhan and Zhangye. Felt (II) at Thimphu, Bhutan. Also felt at Punakha. Felt at Dibrugarh and Gezing, India. Also felt at Kathmandu, Nepal and at Chiang Mai, Thailand.

APR 18 20 28 50.2  35.633 N   67.658 E   13 G  5.6  0.8  262  CENTRAL AFGHANISTAN. MW 5.6 (GCMT), 5.4 (GS). mb 5.7 (GS). MS 5.4 (GS). Mo 2.9*10**17 Nm (GCMT), 1.7*10**17 Nm (GS). Eleven people killed, more than 70 injured, 2,000 houses destroyed and dozens of livestock killed in Samangan. Landslides blocked roads in the area. Felt (IV) at Mazar-e Sharif and (II) at Kabul. Also felt at Baghlan, Bagrami, Bamyan, Baraki Barak, Gazab, Panjab, Shibirghan and Shahrak. Felt at Samarqand, Uzbekistan and (II) at Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

APR 20 00 17 08.0& 30.794 S  121.406 E    0    5.2        77  WESTERN AUSTRALIA. . mb 5.2 (GS). ML 5.0 (AUST). Three people injured and buildings and roads damaged at Kalgoorlie- Boulder. Felt (II) at Perth. Also felt at Carnarvon.

APR 26 02 59 51.0  22.180 N  123.630 E   15    6.5  1.1  351  SOUTHEAST OF TAIWAN. MW 6.5 (UCMT), 6.5 (GCMT), 6.4 (GS), 6.5 (WCMT). mb 6.2 (GS). MS 6.3 (GS). ML 6.8 (TAP). Mo 6.9*10**18 Nm                                                                (UCMT), 6.9*10**18 Nm (GCMT), 4.4*10**18 Nm (GS), 6.9*10**18 Nm                                                                 (WCMT). Felt (III) at Taipei and (II) at T'ai-chung. Felt in                                                                much of Taiwan. Recorded (3 TAP) in Hua-lien, I-lan and T'ai- tung; (2 TAP) in Miao-li, Nan-t'ou, P'ing-tung, T'ai-nan and Yun- lin; (1 TAP) in P'eng-hu. Felt (II) at Quanzhou, Fujian. Felt on                                                                Ishigaki-jima, Ryukyu Islands. Recorded (2 JMA) on Hateruma- jima, Iriomote-jima and Yonaguni-jima; (1 JMA) on Ikema-jima, Ishigaki-jima, Miyako-jima and Tarama-shima.

APR 30 23 11 43.3  60.473 N  177.875 W   14    6.5  1.1  430  BERING SEA. MW 6.5 (GCMT), 6.4 (UCMT), 6.3 (GS), 6.4 (WCMT). mb                                                                   6.0 (GS). MS 6.7 (GS). ML 6.2 (AEIC). Mo 6.7*10**18 Nm (GCMT), 5.8*10**18 Nm (UCMT), 3.7*10**18 Nm (GS), 5.6*10**18 Nm (WCMT).

MAY 05 16 29 03.2   4.054 S  101.096 E   27 G  6.6  1.0  347  SOUTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA. MW 6.6 (GCMT), 6.4 (GS), 6.5 (WCMT). mb 5.9 (GS). MS 6.6 (GS). ME 6.3 (GS). Mo 9.1*10**18 Nm (GCMT), 4.8*10**18 Nm (GS), 6.9*10**18 Nm (WCMT). Es 7.4*10**13 Nm (GS). Felt (IV) at Ipuh, Ketaun and Mukomuko; (III) at Bengkulu, Lebong and Muaraaman. Also felt in Singapore.

MAY 06 02 42 47.9  18.058 S   70.547 W   37 G  6.2  0.7  455  OFFSHORE TARAPACA, CHILE. MW 6.2 (UCMT), 6.2 (GCMT), 6.1 (GS), 6.2 (WCMT). mb 6.7 (GS). MS 5.9 (GS). ME 6.6 (GS). ML 6.5 (GUC), 6.5 (LIM). Mo 2.8*10**18 Nm (UCMT), 2.8*10**18 Nm (GCMT), 1.6*10**18 Nm (GS), 2.8*10**18 Nm (WCMT), 2.9*10**18 Nm (PPT). Es 1.8*10**14 Nm (GS). Eleven people injured, some buildings slightly damaged (V), utilities disrupted and landslides in the Tacna area, Peru. Felt (IV) at Moquegua and Ilo; (III) at                                                                Arequipa, Juliaca and Puno; (II) at Puerto Maldonado. Also felt at Acari, Ayaviri, Camana, Chivay and Tarata. Felt (V) at Arica; (IV) Alto Hospicio, Camina, Iquique and Pozo Almonte; (III) at                                                                Huara; (II) at Pica and Quillagua, Chile. Also felt at                                                                Antofagasta and Tocopilla. Felt (III) at La Paz and Oruro, Bolivia. Also felt at Cochabamba and El Alto.

MAY 09 05 59 41.6   3.748 N   96.018 E   38 G  7.2  0.9  611  NORTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA. MW 7.2 (GS), 7.2 (UCMT), 7.2 (GCMT), 7.2 (WCMT). mb 6.6 (GS). MS 7.3 (GS). ME 7.3 (GS). Mo 9.0*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 8.3*10**19 Nm (GS), 9.1*10**19 Nm (WCMT), 8.5*10**19 Nm (UCMT), 2.5*10**19 Nm (PPT). Es 1.7*10**15 Nm (GS). Slight damage and a power outage reported on Simeulue. Felt (V) at                                                                Banda Aceh and Meulaboh; (IV) at Medan, Nias and Padang; (III) at Riau and Sibolga; (II) at Jakarta. Felt (III) at Alor Setar, Ayer Itam and Tanjong Bunga; (II) at Bukit Mertajam, Butterworth, Gelugor, Georgetown, Kuala Lumpur, Nibong Tebal and Tanjong Tokong, Malaysia. Felt in much of Peninsular Malaysia. Felt (III) at Phuket, Thailand. Also felt at Bangkok, Hat Yai and Yala. Felt (II) at Rangoon, Burma and at Vientiane, Laos. Also felt (II) in Singapore.

MAY 14 12 29 22.3& 35.900 N    4.120 E    2 G  5.2       312  NORTHERN ALGERIA. . mb 5.2 (GS). ML 5.2 (ALG). Two people killed and 43 injured near Beni Yellman. Felt (II) at Algiers. Also felt at Birkhadem, Bouira, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Boumerdas, Bou Saada, Constantine, Mansourah and Tizi Ouzou.

MAY 24 16 18 29.0   8.087 S   71.558 W  581 D  6.5  0.8  460  ACRE, BRAZIL. MW 6.5 (GS), 6.5 (UCMT), 6.4 (GCMT), 6.5 (WCMT). mb                                                                   6.0 (GS). Mo 6.8*10**18 Nm (GS), 6.1*10**18 Nm (UCMT), 5.9*10**18 Nm (GCMT), 6.0*10**18 Nm (WCMT). Felt (V) at Cruzeiro do Sul, (III) at Rio Branco and (II) at Manaus. Also felt at                                                                Feijo, Tabatinga and Tarauaca. Felt (III) at Pucallpa, Peru. Also felt at Barranca, Campoverde, Chosica, Iquitos and San Luis.

MAY 26 08 53 08.0  25.773 N  129.944 E   10 G  6.5  0.9  548  SOUTHEAST OF THE RYUKYU ISLANDS. MW 6.5 (GS), 6.5 (UCMT), 6.4 (GCMT), 6.4 (WCMT). mb 6.2 (GS). MS 6.2 (GS). ME 6.2 (GS). Mo                                                                7.4*10**18 Nm (UCMT), 6.7*10**18 Nm (GS), 5.8*10**18 Nm (GCMT), 5.3*10**18 Nm (WCMT). Es 3.8*10**13 Nm (GS). Felt (IV) at Urasoe and (III) at Chatan, Ginowan, Ishikawa, Okinawa and Yomitan. Also felt at Gushikawa, Itoman, Naha and Nishihara. Recorded (3                                                                JMA) in the Kerama-retto and on Okinawa and (2 JMA) from Uke- jima to Kume-jima and as far as Akuseki-jima.

MAY 27 17 14 46.5  13.698 S  166.643 E   31 G  7.1  1.1  327  VANUATU. MW 7.1 (GCMT), 7.0 (GS), 7.2 (WCMT), 7.0 (UCMT). mb 6.2 (GS). MS 7.1 (GS). ME 7.4 (GS). Mo 6.6*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 3.4*10**19 Nm (GS), 6.9*10**19 Nm (WCMT), 4.4*10**19 Nm (UCMT), 1.0*10**20 Nm (PPT). Es 2.9*10**15 Nm (GS). Felt (V) at                                                                Luganville and (III) at Port-Vila. Felt at Honiara and Lata, Solomon Islands.

MAY 31 19 51 45.8  11.132 N   93.471 E  112 G  6.5  1.1  422  ANDAMAN ISLANDS, INDIA REGION. MW 6.5 (GCMT), 6.4 (GS), 6.4 (UCMT), 6.4 (WCMT). mb 6.1 (GS). ME 6.0 (GS). Mo 6.4*10**18 Nm                                                                (GCMT), 5.5*10**18 Nm (UCMT), 5.2*10**18 Nm (GS), 5.1*10**18 Nm                                                                 (WCMT), 5.5*10**18 Nm (PPT). Es 2.6*10**13 Nm (GS). Felt (IV) at                                                                Port Blair and (II) at Calcutta and Visakhapatnam. Also felt at                                                                Bhubaneswar, Haora, Kataka and Madras. Felt at Chittagong and Dhaka, Bangladesh.

JUN 12 19 26 50.4   7.881 N   91.936 E   35 G  7.5  1.1  514  NICOBAR ISLANDS, INDIA REGION. MW 7.5 (GCMT), 7.4 (GS), 7.5 (WCMT), 7.4 (UCMT). mb 7.0 (GS). MS 7.5 (GS). ME 7.3 (GS). Mo                                                                1.9*10**20 Nm (GCMT), 1.7*10**20 Nm (GS), 2.1*10**20 Nm (WCMT), 1.8*10**20 Nm (UCMT), 2.4*10**20 Nm (PPT). Es 2.2*10**15 Nm                                                                (GS). Felt (VI) at Port Blair; (III) at Abiramam, Ambattur, Chennamalai, Chepet, Madippakkam, Madras, Saint Thomas Mount and Visakhapatnam; (II) at Bangalore, Calcutta, Kolathur, Porur and Valasaravakkam. Felt (IV) at Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Felt (III) at Colombo, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, Galle and Kandy; (II) at                                                                Battaramulla, Matara and Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. Felt (III) at                                                                Dacca, Bangladesh. Also felt at Dhamrai. Felt (II) at Male, Maldives. Felt at Perai, Malaysia and in Singapore. A 6-cm tsunami (peak-to-trough) was recorded at Trincomalee, Sri Lanka.

JUN 16 03 16 27.5   2.174 S  136.543 E   18 G  7.0  1.3  307  NEAR THE NORTH COAST OF PAPUA, INDONESIA. MW 7.0 (GS), 7.0 (UCMT), 7.0 (GCMT), 7.0 (WCMT). mb 6.7 (GS). MS 7.1 (GS). ME 7.3 (GS). Mo 4.5*10**19 Nm (GS), 3.9*10**19 Nm (UCMT), 3.9*10**19 Nm                                                                (GCMT), 3.9*10**19 Nm (WCMT), 9.1*10**19 Nm (PPT). Es 2.1*10**15 Nm (GS). At least seventeen people killed, 10,000 displaced, 2,556 buildings destroyed or damaged (VI), landslides occurred and utilities disrupted on Yapen. Several buildings destroyed or                                                                damaged (VI) on Biak. Felt (V) at Nabire and (IV) at Manokwari. Also felt at Aberpura.

JUN 16 03 58 08.4   2.329 S  136.484 E   11    6.6  1.4  309  NEAR THE NORTH COAST OF PAPUA, INDONESIA. MW 6.6 (GCMT), 6.6 (WCMT). mb 6.2 (GS). Mo 8.8*10**18 Nm (GCMT), 8.9*10**18 Nm                                                                (WCMT).

JUN 26 05 30 19.4  10.627 S  161.447 E   35 G  6.7  1.2  392  SOLOMON ISLANDS. MW 6.7 (GCMT), 6.6 (GS), 6.8 (WCMT), 6.7 (UCMT). mb 6.4 (GS). MS 6.8 (GS). ME 6.6 (GS). Mo 9.4*10**18 Nm (GS), 1.4*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 1.7*10**19 Nm (WCMT), 1.5*10**19 Nm                                                                (UCMT), 1.5*10**19 Nm (PPT). Es 1.6*10**14 Nm (GS). Felt (IV) at                                                                Honiara.

JUN 30 07 22 27.6  16.396 N   97.782 W   20 G  6.3  0.9  344  OAXACA, MEXICO. MW 6.2 (GCMT), 6.3 (WCMT). mb 5.9 (GS). MS 6.0 (GS). MD 6.0 (UNM). Mo 2.6*10**18 Nm (GCMT), 3.0*10**18 Nm                                                                (WCMT). One person killed at San Andres Huaxpaltepec. Felt (VII) at Pinotepa Nacional; (IV) at Ecatepec, Nezahualcoyotl, Tlalnepantla and Veracruz; (III) at Cholula, Cuernavaca, Huixquilucan, Jiquilpan, Mexico, Naucalpan, Oaxaca and Puebla. Felt in much of central and southern Mexico as far as                                                                Guadalajara and San Cristobal de las Casas.

JUL 14 08 32 21.4  38.067 S   73.310 W   22 G  6.6  0.9  295  BIO-BIO, CHILE. MW 6.6 (GCMT), 6.5 (GS), 6.5 (UCMT), 6.5 (WCMT). mb 5.9 (GS). MS 6.5 (GS). ME 5.9 (GS). ML 6.6 (GUC). Mo                                                                9.0*10**18 Nm (GCMT), 6.8*10**18 Nm (GS), 7.4*10**18 Nm (WCMT), 7.1*10**18 Nm (UCMT), 7.3*10**18 Nm (PPT). Es 1.8*10**13 Nm                                                                (GS). Felt (VI) at Angol, Canete, Curarrehue, Queule, Renaico, Temuco, Tolten and Traiguen; (V) at Collipulli; (IV) at Chillan, Concepcion, Curacautin, Linares, Los Angeles, Parral, Penco, Talcahuano, and Villarrica; (III) at Cobquecura, Corral, Curanilahue, Mafil, Panguipulli, Ranco, San Jose and Valdivia. Felt in much of central Chile from Santiago to Osorno. Also felt at Bariloche and Cutral-Co, Argentina.

JUL 18 05 56 44.9  52.876 N  169.848 W   14 G  6.6  0.9  702  FOX ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, ALASKA. MW 6.6 (GS), 6.6 (UCMT), 6.6 (GCMT), 6.6 (WCMT). mb 6.3 (GS). MS 6.7 (GS). ME 6.7 (GS). ML 6.3 (AEIC). Mo 8.7*10**18 Nm (GS), 1.1*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 9.7*10**18 Nm (WCMT), 1.1*10**19 Nm (UCMT), 6.8*10**18 Nm (PPT). Es 2.6*10**14 Nm (GS). Felt (IV) at Unalaska and (II) at Dutch Harbor. Also felt at Nikolski and on Unimak Island.

JUL 18 13 04 09.4   5.966 S  150.428 E   28 G  6.9  1.0  456  NEW BRITAIN REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA. MW 6.9 (GCMT), 6.8 (GS), 6.9 (WCMT), 6.8 (UCMT). mb 6.3 (GS). MS 7.1 (GS). ME 6.7 (GS). Mo 3.0*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 2.3*10**19 Nm (GS), 2.5*10**19 Nm                                                                (WCMT), 2.3*10**19 Nm (UCMT), 6.0*10**19 Nm (PPT). Es 2.5*10**14 Nm (GS). Felt at Kimbe and Kokopo. Felt (III) at Port Moresby, New Guinea. Also felt at Goroka and Wau. Felt at Gizo, Solomon Islands.

JUL 18 13 34 59.3   5.931 S  150.590 E   35 G  7.3  1.2  397  NEW BRITAIN REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA. MW 7.3 (UCMT), 7.3 (GCMT), 7.3 (WCMT). mb 6.1 (GS). MS 7.3 (GS). Mo 1.2*10**20 Nm (GCMT), 1.3*10**20 Nm (WCMT), 1.1*10**20 Nm (UCMT), 8.6*10**19 Nm (PPT). Felt (VII) at Kimbe. Also felt strongly at Kandrian and Rabaul. Felt (III) at Goroka, New Britain. Also felt at Kainantu, Port Moresby and Wau.

JUL 20 19 38 09.5  27.022 N   53.861 E   10 G  5.8  1.0  233  SOUTHERN IRAN. MW 5.8 (GCMT). mb 5.6 (GS). mbLg 5.8 (TEH). ML 5.7 (THR). Mo 6.3*10**17 Nm (GCMT). At least one person killed and 32 injured in Fars. At least 50 percent of the buildings damaged at Lamerd. Felt at Qeshm. Felt (II) at Manama, Bahrain. Also felt at Al Muharraq. Felt (II) at Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Also felt at Abu Dhabi and Ash Shariqah. Felt (II) at Doha, Qatar.

JUL 23 22 08 11.2   6.718 N  123.409 E  607 D  7.3  0.9  491  MORO GULF, MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES. MW 7.3 (GS), 7.3 (UCMT), 7.3 (GCMT), 7.3 (WCMT). mb 6.3 (GS). Mo 1.1*10**20 Nm (GS), 1.1*10**20 Nm (UCMT), 1.1*10**20 Nm (GCMT), 1.0*10**20 Nm                                                                (WCMT), 1.3*10**20 Nm (PPT). Felt (II PIVS) at Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato, General Santos, Lingig, Socorro and Surigao; (I PIVS) at Lanuza. Also felt at Alabel, Davao, Kadingilan, Panabo and Puricay. Felt on Bohol and Leyte and at Manila, Luzon. Also felt on Pulau Ternate, Indonesia.

JUL 23 22 51 12.4   6.486 N  123.467 E  586    7.6  0.9  340  MORO GULF, MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES. MW 7.6 (GS), 7.6 (UCMT), 7.6 (GCMT), 7.6 (WCMT). mb 6.9 (GS). Mo 3.6*10**20 Nm (UCMT), 3.5*10**20 Nm (GCMT), 3.0*10**20 Nm (GS), 3.2*10**20 Nm (WCMT). Felt (IV PIVS) at General Santos; (III PIVS) at Davao, Malita, Padada, and Santa Maria; (II PIVS) at Ayala, Butuan, Cagayan de                                                                Oro, Dipolog, Matanao, Socorro and Surigao; (I PIVS) at Calinan and Midsayap. Felt in much of Mindanao. Felt (II PIVS) at Cebu City, Cebu and at Palo and Tacloban, Leyte. Felt (II PIVS) at                                                                Makati and Palanan, Luzon. Also felt at Manila. Felt (II PIVS) at Bayawan, Negros. Also felt at Bacolod. Felt (I PIVS) at                                                                Makato, Panay. Also felt at Iloilo. Felt on Pulau Ternate, Indonesia and in tall buildings at T'ai-nan, Taiwan.

JUL 23 23 15 10.1   6.776 N  123.259 E  641 D  7.4  0.8  441  MORO GULF, MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES. MW 7.4 (GS), 7.4 (GCMT), 7.4 (WCMT). mb 6.8 (GS). Mo 1.8*10**20 Nm (GCMT), 1.7*10**20 Nm                                                                (GS), 1.6*10**20 Nm (WCMT). Felt (III PIVS) at General Santos and Lingig; (II PIVS) at Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato, Davao, Dipolog and Kidapawan. Felt (IV PIVS) at San Jose and Tanjay; (II PIVS) at Dumaguete, Negros. Felt (III PIVS) at Hamtic and San Jose, Panay. Felt (III PIVS) at Irosin and Sorsogon; (II                                                                PIVS) at Antipolo, Legaspi and Manila, Luzon. Felt (II PIVS) at                                                                Cebu City, Cebu and at Tacloban, Leyte. Felt in much of Cebu, Leyte, Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro, Negros, Panay and Samar. Felt on Pulau Ternate, Indonesia and at Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei.

JUL 24 05 35 01.0   6.218 N  123.519 E  553 G  6.6  1.1  380  MORO GULF, MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES. MW 6.6 (GCMT), 6.5 (GS), 6.5 (UCMT), 6.5 (WCMT). mb 5.9 (GS). Mo 9.1*10**18 Nm (GCMT), 8.1*10**18 Nm (GS), 7.3*10**18 Nm (UCMT), 6.8*10**18 Nm (WCMT). Felt (II PIVS) at General Santos, Malita and San Marcelino. Also felt at Cogon. Felt at Manado, Sulawesi, Indonesia.

JUL 29 07 31 56.8   6.528 N  123.247 E  627    6.6  1.4  180  MORO GULF, MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES. MW 6.6 (GS), 6.6 (UCMT), 6.6 (GCMT), 6.6 (WCMT). mb 6.1 (GS). Mo 9.6*10**18 Nm (GCMT), 9.3*10**18 Nm (UCMT), 1.1*10**19 Nm (GS), 8.6*10**18 Nm (WCMT).

JUL 30 13 50 13.2  35.217 N   59.308 E   24 D  5.4  1.1  197  NORTHEASTERN IRAN. MW 5.4 (GS). mb 5.5 (GS). ML 5.8 (THR). Mo                                                                   1.8*10**17 Nm (GS). At least 274 people injured and severe damage in the Torbat-e Heydariyeh area. Felt (II) at Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

AUG 04 07 15 34.0   5.496 S  146.811 E  226    6.5  1.0  402  EASTERN NEW GUINEA REG, PAPUA NEW GUINEA. MW 6.5 (GCMT), 6.4 (GS), 6.4 (UCMT), 6.4 (WCMT). mb 6.1 (GS). Mo 6.0*10**18 Nm                                                                (GCMT), 5.6*10**18 Nm (UCMT), 4.7*10**18 Nm (GS), 5.1*10**18 Nm                                                                 (WCMT), 3.6*10**18 Nm (PPT). Felt (IV) at Port Moresby and Lae. Also felt at Goroka, Kainantu, Kerema, Madang, Mount Hagen and Wau.

AUG 04 22 01 43.6   5.746 S  150.765 E   44 G  7.0  1.2  396  NEW BRITAIN REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA. MW 6.9 (GCMT), 7.0 (WCMT), 6.9 (UCMT). mb 6.1 (GS). MS 6.6 (GS). Mo 2.6*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 3.7*10**19 Nm (WCMT), 2.7*10**19 Nm (UCMT), 2.4*10**19 Nm (PPT). Felt (IV) at Kimbe.

AUG 10 05 23 44.9  17.541 S  168.069 E   25 G  7.3  1.3  405  VANUATU. MW 7.3 (UCMT), 7.2 (GCMT), 7.3 (WCMT). mb 6.4 (GS). MS                                                                   7.3 (GS). ME 6.9 (GS). Mo 9.2*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 1.0*10**20 Nm                                                                (UCMT), 1.0*10**20 Nm (WCMT), 1.4*10**20 Nm (PPT). Es 5.9*10**14 Nm (GS). Felt (VII) at Port-Vila. Also felt at Longana and Luganville. Felt at Noumea, New Caledonia. A 23-cm tsunami (center-to-peak) was recorded at Port-Vila.

AUG 12 11 54 15.5   1.266 S   77.306 W  207 D  7.1  0.9  672  ECUADOR. MW 7.1 (GS), 7.1 (UCMT), 7.1 (GCMT), 7.1 (WCMT). mb 6.4 (GS). MD 7.2 (QUI). Mo 5.9*10**19 Nm (GS), 4.9*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 5.3*10**19 Nm (WCMT), 4.8*10**19 Nm (UCMT), 4.7*10**19 Nm (PPT). Slight damage at Manta, Guayaquil and Loja. Felt (V) at                                                                Guayaquil and Santo Domingo; (IV) at Cuenca, Loja, Machala, Manta and Samborondon; (III) at Ibarra and Quito; (II) at                                                                Ambato. Felt (III) at Iquitos, Peru. Felt throughout Ecuador and in much of northern Peru as far south as Imperial. Felt at                                                                Bogota and Cali, Colombia and at Maracaibo, Venezuela.

AUG 13 21 19 33.0  12.484 N  141.476 E   10 G  6.9  1.3  391  MARIANA ISLANDS REGION. MW 6.9 (UCMT), 6.9 (GCMT), 6.9 (WCMT). mb                                                                   6.5 (GS). MS 6.9 (GS). Mo 2.7*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 2.7*10**19 Nm                                                                (WCMT), 2.5*10**19 Nm (UCMT), 3.1*10**19 Nm (PPT).

AUG 14 23 01 04.0  12.273 N  141.429 E   13 G  6.6  1.3  374  MARIANA ISLANDS REGION. MW 6.6 (UCMT), 6.3 (GS), 6.3 (GCMT), 6.4 (WCMT). mb 6.1 (GS). MS 6.3 (GS). ME 6.4 (GS). Mo 8.8*10**18 Nm                                                                (UCMT), 4.0*10**18 Nm (GS), 4.0*10**18 Nm (GCMT), 5.9*10**18 Nm                                                                 (WCMT). Es 1.0*10**14 Nm (GS).

AUG 27 19 23 49.5& 35.490 N   54.470 E    7    5.7       301  NORTHERN IRAN. . MW 5.7 (GCMT), 5.6 (GS), 5.8 (WCMT). mb 5.6 (GS). MS 5.5 (GS). mbLg 5.9 (TEH). Mo 5.1*10**17 Nm (GCMT), 2.8*10**17 Nm (GS), 7.2*10**17 Nm (WCMT). At least three people killed, several hundred injured and 700 homes destroyed in the Damghan-Torud area. Felt (IV) at Shahrud and (II) at Europus. Also felt at Ardabil, Ashrafabad, Damghan, Eslamshahr, Meydan-e Qods, Qarchak, Sarivdeh, Shahrak-e Qods and Shahriar.

AUG 29 00 53 31.4  27.197 N  103.005 E   35 G  4.9  1.1  167  SICHUAN-YUNNAN-GUIZHOU REGION, CHINA. mb 4.9 (GS). Fourteen people injured and more than 1,000 homes damaged in Ningnan and Ziaojia. Felt at Xichang.

SEP 03 11 16 06.6& 51.451 N  175.870 W   24    6.5       583  ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS., ALASKA. . MW 6.5 (GCMT), 6.3 (GS), 6.5 (WCMT), 6.4 (UCMT). mb 6.1 (GS). MS 6.2 (GS). ML                                                                6.0 (AEIC). Mo 6.0*10**18 Nm (GCMT), 3.7*10**18 Nm (GS), 6.8*10**18 Nm (WCMT), 5.6*10**18 Nm (UCMT). Felt on Adak.

SEP 03 16 35 47.7  43.522 S  171.830 E   12 G  7.0  1.3  365  SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND. MW 7.0 (UCMT), 7.0 (GCMT), 6.9 (GS), 7.0 (WCMT). mb 6.4 (GS). MS 7.3 (GS). ME 7.4 (GS). ML 7.1 (WEL). Mo 3.5*10**19 Nm (UCMT), 3.5*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 2.8*10**19 Nm                                                                (GS), 4.1*10**19 Nm (WCMT), 6.7*10**19 Nm (PPT). Es 3.1*10**15 Nm (GS). Two people seriously injured, six bridges and many buildings damaged in the Christchurch area. About 30 km of right- lateral surface faulting with a maximum offset of more than 5 m                                                                was observed southeast of Darfield. Liquefaction caused damage at Bexley, Kaiapoi and in parts of Christchurch. Landslides were observed along the Rakaia River and the Port Hills area. Maximum intensity IX in the Christchurch-Greendale area and felt (VI) in                                                                much of Canterbury. Felt throughout New Zealand. Detailed information about this earthquake is available on the New Zealand GeoNet website at http://www.geonet.org.nz.

SEP 27 11 22 46.0  29.647 N   51.665 E   27    5.8  1.0  341  SOUTHERN IRAN. MW 5.8 (GCMT), 5.5 (GS). mb 5.9 (GS). MS 5.6 (GS). mbLg 6.1 (TEH). ML 6.0 (THR). Mo 6.7*10**17 Nm (GCMT), 2.6*10**17 Nm (GS). One person killed and three injured at Konar Takhteh. Felt (IV) at Shiraz. Also felt at Bandar Bushehr. Felt (II) at As Salimiyah, Kuwait. Also felt at Ad Dasmah, Al Manqaf, Hawalli and Mishrif.

SEP 29 17 11 25.9   4.963 S  133.760 E   26 G  7.0  1.3  271  NEAR THE SOUTH COAST OF PAPUA, INDONESIA. MW 7.0 (UCMT), 6.9 (GCMT), 6.8 (GS), 7.0 (WCMT). mb 6.7 (GS). MS 6.8 (GS). ME 7.6 (GS). Mo 4.2*10**19 Nm (UCMT), 3.2*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 2.2*10**19 Nm (GS), 3.6*10**19 Nm (WCMT), 7.9*10**19 Nm (PPT). Es                                                                5.9*10**15 Nm (GS). Felt (VIII) at Tual, (VII) at Nabire and (III) at Fakfak and Kaimana. Also felt at Aberpura, Ambon, Merauke and Sorong. Felt (II) at Darwin, Australia. Also felt at                                                                Galiwinku, Howard Springs, Katherine and Palmerston.

OCT 10 21 44 25.9  33.869 N   72.887 E   33    5.2  1.0  168  PAKISTAN. mb 5.2 (GS). One person killed, 15 injured and at least 100 buildings damaged in the Khanpur-Haripur area. Felt (V) at                                                                Topi. Also felt at Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Rawalpindi and Taxila. Felt at Srinagar, India.

OCT 13 14 06 30.0& 35.192 N   97.320 W   13 G  4.4       152  OKLAHOMA. . MW 4.4 (GCMT), 4.3 (RMT). mb 4.3 (GS). mbLg 4.7 (TUL). Mo 4.6*10**15 Nm (GCMT), 4.1*10**15 Nm (RMT). Two people injured at Norman. Felt (V) at Macomb, Sparks, Spencer and Washington; (IV) at Agra, Arcadia, Asher, Bethany, Byars, Cashion, Chandler, Choctaw, Coleman, Elmore City, Foster, Hennepin, Norman, Jones, Lexington, Lindsay, Maud, Maysville, McLoud, Minco, Newalla, Newcastle, Ninnekah, Noble, Oklahoma City, Purcell, Shawnee, Spencer, Stroud, Tecumseh, Tuttle, Tupelo, Wanette, Wapanucka and Wayne. Felt throughout central and eastern Oklahoma, in much of northern Texas and in many parts of western Arkansas, eastern Kansas and western Missouri. Isolated felt reports were received from Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Mexico and Tennessee.

OCT 21 17 53 13.0  24.690 N  109.159 W   10 G  6.7  1.2  352  GULF OF CALIFORNIA. MW 6.7 (UCMT), 6.7 (GCMT), 6.6 (GS), 6.7 (WCMT). mb 6.2 (GS). MS 6.8 (GS). MD 6.5 (UNM). Mo 9.7*10**18 Nm                                                                (GS), 1.2*10**19 Nm (UCMT), 1.2*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 1.3*10**19 Nm                                                                 (WCMT), 1.4*10**19 Nm (PPT). Felt (IV) at Guasave and Los Mochis and (III) at Culiacan, Sinaloa. Felt (III) at La Paz and (II) at                                                                Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur. Also felt (II) at                                                                Hermosillo, Sonora. Felt widely in northwestern Mexico as far as                                                                Chihuahua, Durango and San Quintin. Felt (II) at San Diego, California. Felt in parts of southern California and southern Arizona. Also felt at Truth or Consequences, New Mexico and at                                                                Bastrop, Texas.

OCT 25 14 42 22.4   3.487 S  100.082 E   20    7.8  1.2  379  KEPULAUAN MENTAWAI REGION, INDONESIA. MW 7.8 (GCMT), 7.7 (WCMT). mb 6.5 (GS). MS 7.3 (GS). ME 7.2 (GS). Mo 6.7*10**20 Nm (GCMT), 4.0*10**20 Nm (WCMT). Es 1.4*10**15 Nm (GS). At least 445 people killed, 498 injured and 58 missing from the earthquake and a                                                                tsunami which had maximum wave heights of 7 meters on Pulau Pagai Utara, 3-5 meters on Pulau Pagai Selatan and 3 meters on                                                                Pulau Sipura. Felt (V) on Pulau Pagai Selatan. Felt (IV) at                                                                Padang and Pariaman; (III) at Bengkulu, Bukittinggi, Ketaun and Sungaipenuh; (II) at Kapahiang, Sumatra. Felt at Petaling Jaya, Malaysia and (II) in Singapore. The following maximum tsunami amplitudes were recorded on the these selected tide gauges: 33 cm at Padang, 26 cm on Pulau Enggano and 23 cm on Pulau Tanahbala, Indonesia; 23 cm on Cocos Island and 8 cm at Hillarys Boat Harbor, Australia; 7 cm on Diego Garcia; 11 cm at Male, Maldives; 40 cm at Port Mathurin and 28 cm at Port Louis, Mauritius; 12 cm at Pointe Larue, Seychelles; 9 cm at Colombo, Sri Lanka.

NOV 03 00 56 55.4& 43.760 N   20.730 E    1    5.5       380  SERBIA. . MW 5.5 (GCMT), 5.4 (GS), 5.4 (RMT). mb 5.3 (GS). MS 5.2 (GS). ML 5.8 (BUC), 5.5 (BEO), 5.4 (PDG). MD 5.6 (TIR). Mo 2.0*10**17 Nm (GCMT), 1.6*10**17 Nm (GS), 1.6*10**17 Nm                                                                (RMT). Two people killed, more than 100 injured, 1,000 homes destroyed and 5,000 damaged (VI) at Kraljevo. Felt (V) at Gornji Milanovac and Valjevo; (IV) at Belgrade, Bor, Jagodina, Kragujevac, Lazarevac, Obrenovac, Ruma, Smederevo, Sopot, Sremska Mitrovica and Trstenik. Felt (IV) at Bijeljina and Tuzla and (III) at Sarajevo and Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Felt (III) at Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovo and (II) at Skopje, Macedonia and at Sofia and Vidin, Bulgaria. Felt (II) at Osijek, Croatia. Also felt at Dubrovnik. Felt throughout Serbia, in much of Kosovo, in western Bulgaria, in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina and in parts of Montenegro and Romania.

NOV 06 03 52 20.0& 33.370 N   48.940 E    5 G  4.9       131  WESTERN IRAN. . mb 4.9 (GS). mbLg 4.9 (TEH). ML 4.7 (THR). At least 104 people injured, some houses damaged and power outages occurred in the Dorud-Razan area.

NOV 10 04 05 24.4  45.464 S   96.394 E   10 G  6.5  1.1  267  SOUTHEAST INDIAN RIDGE. MW 6.5 (UCMT), 6.4 (GCMT), 6.3 (GS), 6.4 (WCMT). mb 6.0 (GS). MS 6.5 (GS). Mo 6.6*10**18 Nm (UCMT), 5.7*10**18 Nm (GCMT), 4.2*10**18 Nm (GS), 5.6*10**18 Nm (WCMT).

NOV 30 03 24 41.6  28.360 N  139.154 E  487    6.8  0.9  479  BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION. MW 6.8 (UCMT), 6.8 (GCMT), 6.7 (GS), 6.8 (WCMT). mb 5.9 (GS). Mo 1.9*10**19 Nm (UCMT), 1.8*10**19 Nm                                                                (GCMT), 1.3*10**19 Nm (GS), 1.8*10**19 Nm (WCMT), 8.9*10**18 Nm                                                                 (PPT). Felt (IV) at Ayase, Yokohama and Zushi; (III) at and Yokosuka; (II) at Narita, Honshu. Also felt at Ageo, Akishima, Atsugi, Fujisawa, Fukushima, Fussa, Hamura, Hanamaki, Hitachi, Ichikawa, Kawasaki, Machida, Mitaka, Mizuho, Narashino, Ryugasaki, Sano, Takanezawa, Tateyama, Tokyo, Tsukuba, Urayasu, Yaita and Zama. Recorded (3 JMA) in Chiba, Ibaraki, Kanagawa, Miyagi, Saitama, Tochigi and Yamanashi; (2 JMA) in Aomori, Gumma, Iwate, Nagano, Niigata, Shizuoka and Yamagata; (1 JMA) in                                                                Aichi and Akita. Also recorded (1 JMA) in southeastern Hokkaido. Recorded (2 JMA) on Aogo-shima, Hachijo-jima, Kozu-shima, Mikura- jima, Miyake-jima, Nii-jima, O-shima and To-shima. Also recorded (1 JMA) in the Chichijima-retto and Hahajima-retto.

DEC 02 03 12 09.8   6.002 S  149.976 E   33 G  6.6  1.1  306  NEW BRITAIN REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA. MW 6.6 (GS), 6.6 (GCMT), 6.7 (WCMT), 6.6 (UCMT). mb 5.9 (GS). MS 6.7 (GS). ME 6.1 (GS). Mo 9.7*10**18 Nm (GCMT), 1.1*10**19 Nm (GS), 1.2*10**19 Nm                                                                (WCMT), 1.1*10**19 Nm (UCMT), 7.4*10**18 Nm (PPT). Es 2.9*10**13 Nm (GS). Felt (VI) at Kimbe. Also felt at Rabaul. Felt at                                                                Goroka, Kerema, Mount Hagen and Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

DEC 19 12 14 24.5   7.521 N   37.839 E   10 G  5.1  0.9  115  ETHIOPIA. mb 5.1 (GS). Dozens of people injured in the Jima area and buildings damaged in the Hosa'ina-Shenk'ola-Wenjela area. Felt at Asendabo.

DEC 20 18 41 59.6  28.440 N   59.168 E   12 G  6.7  1.4  218  SOUTHEASTERN IRAN. MW 6.7 (UCMT), 6.5 (GCMT), 6.5 (WCMT), 6.5 (GS). ME 7.0 (GS). mbLg 5.5 (GS). Mo 8.4*10**18 Nm (GCMT), 1.2*10**19 Nm (UCMT), 8.2*10**18 Nm (WCMT). Es 7.0*10**14 Nm                                                                (GS). At least 7 people killed, 25 injured and 3 villages destroyed in eastern Kerman. Felt at Bam, Iranshahr, Khash and Zahedan.

DEC 21 17 19 41.1  26.901 N  143.701 E   17    7.4  1.0  605  BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION. MW 7.4 (UCMT), 7.4 (GCMT), 7.4 (WCMT). mb 7.0 (GS). MS 7.5 (GS). ME 7.9 (GS). Mo 1.4*10**20 Nm                                                                (UCMT), 1.4*10**20 Nm (GCMT), 1.4*10**20 Nm (WCMT), 9.1*10**19 Nm (PPT). Es 1.6*10**16 Nm (GS). Felt at Agui, Chiba, Kawasaki, mitaka, Yokohama and Yokosuka. Recorded (4 JMA) in the Chichijima-retto and Hahajima-retto. Also recorded (2 JMA) in                                                                Chiba, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Iwate, Kanagawa, Miyagi, Niigata, Saitama, Tochigi, Yamagata and Yamanashi; (1 JMA) in Akita, Aomori, Gumma, Nagano and Shizuoka, Honshu. Recorded (1 JMA) in                                                                eastern and southeastern Hokkaido. Also recorded (1 JMA) on Aogo- shima, Hachijo-jima, Kozu-shima, Mikura-jima, Miyake-jima, Nii- jima and O-shima.

DEC 25 13 16 36.9  19.733 S  167.896 E   12 G  7.3  1.1  171  VANUATU REGION. MW 7.3 (UCMT), 7.3 (GCMT), 7.3 (WCMT), 7.3 (GS). ME 7.3 (GS). Mo 9.7*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 1.3*10**20 Nm (UCMT), 1.1*10**20 Nm (WCMT), 2.0*10**20 Nm (PPT). Es 1.9*10**15 Nm (GS).

NOTABLE NORTH AMERICAN EARTHQUAKES

MAY 16 05 16 10.0& 18.400 N   67.070 W  113    5.8       367  PUERTO RICO. . MW 5.8 (GS), 5.8 (UCMT), 5.8 (GCMT), 5.7 (RMT). mb 5.4 (GS). Mo 7.1*10**17 Nm (GS), 6.9*10**17 Nm (UCMT), 6.9*10**17 Nm (GCMT), 5.3*10**17 Nm (RMT). Minor damage to homes at Lares and Vega Baja. A landslide was reported at Utuado. Felt (V) at Adjuntas, Aguada, Anasco, Barranquitas, Jayuya, Lares, Las Marias, Maricao, Mayaguez, Moca, Morovis, Orocovis, Ponce, San German, San Sebastian, Utuado and Villalba. Felt strongly throughout Puerto Rico. Felt (IV) at Otra Banda and (III) in                                                                much of eastern Dominican Republic, including Santo Domingo. Also felt in the Virgin Islands.

JUN 15 04 26 58.4& 32.700 N  115.921 W    5    5.8       440  SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. . MW 5.8 (GS), 5.8 (GCMT), 5.7 (WCMT), 5.7 (PAS). mb 5.6 (GS). MS 5.7 (GS). MD 5.7 (UNM). ML 5.4 (ECX). Mo 6.1*10**17 Nm (GCMT), 5.5*10**17 Nm (GS), 4.4*10**17 Nm                                                                (WCMT). Some buildings slightly damaged (VII) at Ocotillo. Felt (V) at Calipatria, Campo, El Centro, Holtville and Jacumba and (IV) in the Anza-Brawley-San Diego area. Felt throughout Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Diego Counties and in parts of Kern, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. Felt (V) at El Sauzal and (IV) at Ensenada, Mexicali, Rosarito, Tecate and Tijuana, Baja California. Felt in much of                                                                northern Baja California. Felt (III) at San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora. Also felt at Puerto Penasco. Felt (III) at Somerton and Yuma; (II) at Parker, Phoenix, Tucson and Wellton, Arizona. Felt widely in southwestern Arizona.

JUN 23 17 41 41.0& 45.880 N   75.480 W   22    5.2       426  ONTARIO-QUEBEC BORDER REGION, CANADA. . MW 5.2 (GCMT), 5.0 (GS), 5.0 (RMT), 5.0 (OTT), 5.0 (PAL). mb 5.5 (GS). Mo                                                                6.9*10**16 Nm (GCMT), 4.6*10**16 Nm (GS), 4.6*10**16 Nm (RMT). Slight damage at Gracefield, Quebec and landslides occurred in                                                                the epicentral area. Felt (VI) at Val-des-Bois and (V) at Fort- Coulonge, Maniwaki, Papineauville, Saint Andre Avellin, Sainte- Julienne and Thurso. Also felt (V) at Buckingham, Constance Bay and Rockland, Ontario. Felt in much of southern Ontario and Quebec and in parts of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Felt (IV) in the Massena area, New York. Felt in much of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont and in parts of                                                                Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Compiled by Pamela J. Benfield and NEIC Operations Staff.

Hypocenters will be recomputed.

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Deaths from Earthquakes in 2010

Deaths in 2010 Deaths from Earthquakes in 2010 Date UTC 	Region 	Magnitude 	Number Killed * 2010 01 10 	Java, Indonesia 	5.1 	1 2010 01 12 	Haiti region 	7.0 	222570 2010 01 17 	Guizhou,China 	4.4 	8 2010 01 30 	Eastern Sichuan, China 	5.1 	1 2010 02 27 	Offshore Bio-Bio, Chile 	8.8 	577 2010 02 27 	Salta, Argentina 	6.3 	2 2010 03 08 	Eastern Turkey 	6.1 	51 2010 04 04 	Baja California, Mexico 	7.2 	2 2010 04 13 	Southern Qinghai, China 	6.9 	2968 2010 04 18 	Central Afghanistan 	5.6 	11 2010 05 14 	Northern Algeria 	5.2 	2 2010 06 16 	Near the North Coast of Papua, Indonesia 	7.0 	17 2010 06 30 	Oaxaca, Mexico 	6.3 	1 2010 07 20 	Southern Iran 	5.8 	1 2010 08 27 	Northern Iran 	5.7 	3 2010 09 27 	Southern Iran 	5.8 	1 2010 10 10 	Pakistan 	5.2 	1 2010 10 25 	Kepulauan Mentawai region, Indonesia 	7.8 	503 2010 11 03 	Serbia 	5.5 	2 2010 12 20 	Southeastern Iran 	6.7 	7 Total 	226729

SIGNIFICANT EARTHQUAKES OF THE WORLD, 2011

Earthquakes of magnitude 6.5 or greater or ones that caused fatalities, injuries or substantial damage. BRK--Berkeley. PAS--Pasadena.

DATE ORIGIN TIME      GEOGRAPHIC       DEPTH  MAG   SD  NO.           REGION, ADDITIONAL MAGNITUDES AND COMMENTS UTC      UTC         COORDINATES                        STA HR MN SEC    LAT       LONG                      USED

JAN 01 09 56 58.0  26.795 S   63.079 W  577 D  7.0  0.8  505  SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO, ARGENTINA. MW 7.0 (UCMT), 7.0 (GCMT), 7.0 (WCMT). mb 6.8 (GS). MD 7.0 (SJA). Mo 4.4*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 4.3*10**19 Nm (UCMT), 3.9*10**19 Nm (WCMT). Felt (V) at Santiago del Estero. Also felt at Cordoba, La Rioja, Rosario and San Juan. Felt (III) at Campinas, Brazil. Also felt at Brasilia, Londrina, Marilia, Nova Friburgo, Rio Negro and Sao Paulo. Felt (III) at Mejillones and Pozo Almonte; (II) at Antofagasta, Arica, Coquimbo, Huara, La Serena and Vina del Mar, Chile. Also felt at Calama, Chillan, Quilpue, Santiago and Valparaiso.

JAN 02 20 20 18.0  38.313 S   73.269 W   24 G  7.1  1.1  338  ARAUCANIA, CHILE. MW 7.1 (GCMT), 7.0 (GS), 7.2 (WCMT), 7.1 (UCMT). ME 7.4 (GS). WP 7.1 (GS). mbLg 5.9 (GS). Mo 5.6*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 3.8*10**19 Nm (GS), 7.8*10**19 Nm (WCMT), 5.3*10**19 Nm (UCMT), 6.3*10**19 Nm (PPT). Es 3.0*10**15 Nm (GS). Felt (VI) at Curanilahue, Lebu and Tirua; (V) at Concepcion and Temuco.

JAN 09 10 03 44.2  19.157 S  168.311 E   24 G  6.6  1.0  408  VANUATU. MW 6.6 (UCMT), 6.5 (GCMT), 6.5 (WCMT). mb 6.1 (GS). MS                                                                   6.4 (GS). ME 6.4 (GS). Mo 6.7*10**18 Nm (GCMT), 7.2*10**18 Nm                                                                (WCMT), 1.0*10**19 Nm (UCMT), 1.3*10**19 Nm (PPT). Es 1.0*10**14 Nm (GS). Felt (III) at Port-Vila. Also felt at Isangel. Felt at                                                                Noumea, New Caledonia.

JAN 12 21 32 55.3  26.959 N  139.997 E  524    6.5  0.8  492  BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION. MW 6.5 (GS), 6.5 (UCMT), 6.5 (GCMT), 6.4 (WCMT), 6.5 (UCMT). Mo 7.1*10**18 Nm (UCMT), 6.9*10**18 Nm                                                                (GCMT), 6.6*10**18 Nm (GS), 5.9*10**18 Nm (WCMT).

JAN 13 16 16 41.5  20.623 S  168.459 E    9 G  7.0  1.0  544  LOYALTY ISLANDS. MW 7.0 (UCMT), 6.9 (GCMT), 7.0 (WCMT). mb 6.6 (GS). MS 7.1 (GS). ME 7.2 (GS). Mo 3.9*10**19 Nm (UCMT), 2.7*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 3.7*10**19 Nm (WCMT), 5.3*10**19 Nm (PPT). Es 1.5*10**15 Nm (GS). Felt (II) at Noumea, New Caledonia. Also felt at Bouloupari.

JAN 18 20 23 23.2  28.727 N   63.933 E   68 G  7.2  1.3  245  SOUTHWESTERN PAKISTAN. MW 7.2 (GCMT), 7.1 (GS), 7.2 (WCMT). mb                                                                   6.7 (GS). ME 7.9 (GS). Mo 8.6*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 5.3*10**19 Nm                                                                (GS), 7.4*10**19 Nm (WCMT). Es 1.4*10**16 Nm (GS). At least two people died from heart attacks and 200 homes damaged in                                                                Balochistan. Felt (IV) at Bahawalpur, Karachi and Quetta; (III) at Hyderabad, Islamabad, Khairpur, Lahore and Multan. Felt (IV) at Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida and Ni Dilli; (III) at Jaipur, India. Felt (III) at Abu Dhabi, al-Fujayrah and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Felt (III) at Manama, Bahrain and (II) at Doha, Qatar. Felt from Samarkand, Uzbekistan in the north, Hardwaganj, India in the east, Bangalore, India in the south and Buraydah, Saudi Arabia in the west.

FEB 01 07 11 26.5  24.686 N   97.927 E   35 G  4.8  1.0   72  MYANMAR-CHINA BORDER REGION. mb 4.8 (GS). At least 1 person injured at Pingyuan. At least 700 houses damaged or destroyed and 80,000 people displaced in the Yingjiang area.

FEB 10 14 39 29.8   4.184 N  122.898 E  546 D  6.5  1.3  432  CELEBES SEA. MW 6.5 (GS), 6.5 (UCMT), 6.5 (GCMT), 6.5 (WCMT), 6.5 (UCMT). Mo 8.4*10**18 Nm (GS), 7.6*10**18 Nm (GCMT), 6.7*10**18 Nm (WCMT), 6.5*10**18 Nm (UCMT).

FEB 10 14 41 58.6   4.020 N  123.063 E  532    6.6  1.6  134  CELEBES SEA. MW 6.6 (GS), 6.5 (GCMT). Mo 8.8*10**18 Nm (GS), 7.5*10**18 Nm (GCMT).

FEB 11 20 05 30.9  36.404 S   72.937 W   26 G  6.8  1.3  398  OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE. MW 6.8 (GS), 6.8 (GCMT), 6.9 (WCMT). mb                                                                   6.1 (GS). MS 7.0 (GS). ME 7.2 (GS). Mo 1.9*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 1.7*10**19 Nm (GS), 3.2*10**19 Nm (WCMT), 2.0*10**19 Nm (PPT). Es 1.4*10**15 Nm (GS). Power outages in Constitucion, Curanipe and Pelluhue. Felt (VI) at Arauco and Talcahuano; (V) at                                                                Chillan, Concepcion, Parral and Rancagua; (IV) at Angol, Los Angeles, San Vicente and Vina del Mar; (III) a Curico, Linares, Santiago, Talca and Temuco. Felt in much of central Chile from La Ligua in the north to Valdivia in the south. Felt (II) at                                                                Buenos Ares, Argentina. Also felt at Bariloche, Cutral Co, Mendoza, Neuquen and San Juan.

FEB 14 03 40 09.9  35.379 S   72.834 W   21 G  6.6  1.0  358  OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE. MW 6.6 (GCMT), 6.5 (GS), 6.7 (WCMT), 6.6 (UCMT). mb 5.9 (GS). MS 6.6 (GS). ME 6.9 (GS). ML 6.2 (GUC). Mo                                                                8.8*10**18 Nm (UCMT), 7.0*10**18 Nm (GS), 1.1*10**19 Nm (GCMT), 1.5*10**19 Nm (WCMT), 1.3*10**19 Nm (PPT). Es 4.4*10**14 Nm                                                                (GS). Felt (V) at Cauquenes, Chillan, Cobquecura, Concepcion, Longavi, Parral, Penco, Retiro, Talcahuano and Tome; (IV) at                                                                Chanco, Constitucion, Romeral and San Pedro de la Paz; (III) at                                                                 Angol, Arauco, Chepica, Iloca, La Laja, Linares, Lolol, Molina, Paredones, Pichilemu, Renaico, Saavedra, San Clemente, San Javier, San Rosendo, Santa Cruz and Talca; (II) at Curico, Quillota, Rancagua, San Fernado, Santiago, Valdivia and Villa Alemana. Also felt at Coronel, Paine, Puente Alto, San Carlos, Talagante, Temuco and Vina del Mar. Felt at Mendoza, Argentina.

FEB 21 10 57 52.3  26.141 S  178.400 E  557    6.6  0.9  601  SOUTH OF THE FIJI ISLANDS. MW 6.6 (GS), 6.5 (GCMT), 6.5 (WCMT). mb 6.3 (GS). Mo 7.8*10**18 Nm (GCMT), 1.0*10**19 Nm (GS), 6.9*10**18 Nm (WCMT).

2011 Significant Earthquake and News Headlines Archive

02/18/2011-Nearly 60 Small to Moderate Earthquakes Strike Arkansas and Are Widely Felt 01/11/11 - Haiti Dominates Earthquake Fatalities in 2010

Earthquakes

* Magnitude 8.9 NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN March 11, 2011 * Magnitude 5.4 MYANMAR-CHINA BORDER REGION March 10, 2011 * Magnitude 6.5 NEW BRITAIN REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA March 09, 2011 * Magnitude 7.2 NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN March 09, 2011 * Magnitude 6.6 SOLOMON ISLANDS March 07, 2011 * Magnitude 6.5 SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION March 06, 2011 * Magnitude 4.7 ARKANSAS February 28, 2011 * Magnitude 6.3 SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND February 21, 2011 * Magnitude 4.1 ARKANSAS February 18, 2011 * Magnitude 6.6 OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE February 14, 2011 * Magnitude 6.8 OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE February 11, 2011 * Magnitude 6.5 CELEBES SEA February 10, 2011 * Magnitude 7.2 SOUTHWESTERN PAKISTAN January 18, 2011 * Magnitude 7.0 LOYALTY ISLANDS January 13, 2011 * Magnitude 6.6 VANUATU January 09, 2011 * Magnitude 4.1 NORTHERN CALIFORNIA January 08, 2011 * Magnitude 7.1 ARAUCANIA, CHILE January 02, 2011 * Magnitude 7.0 SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO, ARGENTINA January 01, 2011

Largest and Deadliest Earthquakes by Year 1990 - 2011	Largest Earthquakes 	Deadliest Earthquakes Year 	Date 	Magnitude 	Fatalities 	Region 	Date 	Magnitude 	Fatalities 	Region 2011 	03/11 	8.9 	0 	Near the East Coast of Honshu, Japan 	02/21 	6.3 	166 	South Island of New Zealand 2010 	02/27 	8.8 	507 	Offshore Maule, Chile 	01/12 	7.0 	222,570 	Haiti 2009 	09/29 	8.1 	192 	Samoa Islands region 	09/30 	7.5 	1,117 	Southern Sumatra, Indonesia 2008 	05/12 	7.9 	87,587 	Eastern Sichuan, China 	05/12 	7.9 	87,587 	Eastern Sichuan, China 2007 	09/12 	8.5 	25 	Southern Sumatera, Indonesia 	08/15 	8.0 	514 	Near the Coast of Central Peru 2006 	11/15 	8.3 	0 	Kuril Islands 	05/26 	6.3 	5,749 	Java, Indonesia 2005 	03/28 	8.6 	1,313 	Northern Sumatra, Indonesia 	10/08 	7.6 	80,361 	Pakistan 2004 	12/26 	9.1 	227,898 	Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra 	12/26 	9.1 	227,898 	Off West Coast of Northern Sumatra 2003 	09/25 	8.3 	0 	Hokkaido, Japan Region 	12/26 	6.6 	31,000 	Southeastern Iran 2002 	11/03 	7.9 	0 	Central Alaska 	03/25 	6.1 	1,000 	Hindu Kush Region, Afghanistan 2001 	06/23 	8.4 	138 	Near Coast of Peru 	01/26 	7.7 	20,023 	India 2000 	11/16 	8.0 	2 	New Ireland Region, P.N.G. 	06/04 	7.9 	103 	Southern Sumatera, Indonesia 1999 	09/20 	7.7 	2,297 	Taiwan 	08/17 	7.6 	17,118 	Turkey 1998 	03/25 	8.1 	0 	Balleny Islands Region 	05/30 	6.6 	4,000 	Afghanistan-Tajikistan Border Region 1997 	10/14 	7.8 	0 	South of Fiji Islands 	05/10 	7.3 	1,572 	Northern Iran 12/05 	7.8 	0 	Near East Coast of Kamchatka 1996 	02/17 	8.2 	166 	Irian Jaya Region Indonesia 	02/03 	6.6 	322 	Yunnan, China 1995 	07/30 	8.0 	3 	Near Coast of Northern Chile 	01/16 	6.9 	5,530 	Kobe, Japan 10/09 	8.0 	49 	Near Coast of Jalisco Mexico 1994 	10/04 	8.3 	11 	Kuril Islands 	06/06 	6.8 	795 	Colombia 1993 	08/08 	7.8 	0 	South of Mariana Islands 	09/29 	6.2 	9,748 	India 1992 	12/12 	7.8 	2,519 	Flores Region, Indonesia 	12/12 	7.8 	2,519 	Flores Region, Indonesia 1991 	04/22 	7.6 	75 	Costa Rica 	10/19 	6.8 	2,000 	Northern India 12/22 	7.6 	0 	Kuril Islands 1990 	07/16 	7.7 	1,621 	Luzon, Philippine Islands 	06/20 	7.4 	50,000 	Iran

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Earthquakes with 50,000 or More Deaths Most Destructive Known Earthquakes on Record in the World

Listed in order of greatest number of deaths Date UTC 	Location 	Deaths 	Magnitude 	Comments 1556 01 23 	Shaanxi (Shensi), China 	830,000 	~8 	The earthquake occurred near Huaxian, Shaanxi (formerly Shensi), China, about 50 miles (80 km) east-northeast of Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi. More than 830,000 people were killed. Damage extended as far away as Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi (formerly Shansi) and about 270 miles (430 km) northeast of the epicenter. There are felt reports as far away as Liuyang in Hunan, more than 500 miles (800 km) away. Geological effects reported with this earthquake included ground fissures, uplift, subsidence, sandblows, liquefaction and landslides. Most towns in the damage area reported city walls collapsed, most to all houses collapsed and many of the towns reported ground fissures with water gushing out (ie. liquefaction and sandblows). Gu, et.al. says that "the identified death toll of soldiers and civilians was 830,000, and the unidentified was uncountable." The earthquake was felt in all or parts of 9 provinces: Anhui, Gansu, Hebei, Hubei, Henan, Hunan, Shaanxi, Shandong and Shanxi. The maximum intensity is XI in the Huaxian-Weinan area and the estimated magnitude is 8. Additional details from Gu, et.al.: In Huaxian, "city walls, temples, offices and civilian houses were demolished, without a single wall left standing.... The ground fissured and sunk. Water gushed out and formed canals. Sixty percent of the people (several tens of thousands were killed or injured." In Weinan [15 miles (24 km) west of Huaxian], "city walls, temples, storehouses, offices and civilian houses collapsed totally.... In the city, the ground sunk for more than 3 meters. Fifty percent of the people were killed." In Xi'an [one of China's major cities then as it is now], "city walls, storeyed buildings and terraces collapsed. Most temples were destroyed. More than half of the houses toppled down. Only 10-20 percent of the walls were left standing. The ground fissured crisscross. Thirty percent of the people were killed." Even as far away as Taiyuan, "houses were destroyed in great numbers." In many references, this earthquake is referred to as the "Shensi Province earthquake of 1556" using the old spelling for the province. [ 310 ] 1976 07 27 	Tangshan, China 	255,000 (official) 	7.5 	Official casualty figure is 255,000 deaths. Estimated death toll as high as 655,000. 799,000 injured and extensive damage in the Tang-Shan area. Damage extended as far as Beijing. This is probably the greatest death toll from an earthquake in the last four centuries, and the second greatest in recorded history. 1138 08 09 	Syria, Aleppo 	230000 2004 12 26 	Sumatra 	227,898 	9.1 	This is the third largest earthquake in the world since 1900 and is the largest since the 1964 Prince William Sound, Alaska earthquake. In total, 227,898 people were killed or were missing and presumed dead and about 1.7 million people were displaced by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in 14 countries in South Asia and East Africa. (In January 2005, the death toll was 286,000. In April 2005, Indonesia reduced its estimate for the number missing by over 50,000.) The earthquake was felt (IX) at Banda Aceh, (VIII) at Meulaboh and (IV) at Medan, Sumatra and (III-V) in parts of Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The tsunami caused more casualties than any other in recorded history and was recorded nearly world-wide on tide gauges in the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Seiches were observed in India and the United States. Subsidence and landslides were observed in Sumatra. A mud volcano near Baratang, Andaman Islands became active on December 28 and gas emissions were reported in Arakan, Myanmar. 2010 01 12 	Haiti region 	222,570 	7.0 	According to official estimates, 222,570 people killed, 300,000 injured, 1.3 million displaced, 97,294 houses destroyed and 188,383 damaged in the Port-au-Prince area and in much of southern Haiti. This includes at least 4 people killed by a local tsunami in the Petit Paradis area near Leogane. Tsunami waves were also reported at Jacmel, Les Cayes, Petit Goave, Leogane, Luly and Anse a Galets. The tsunami had recorded wave heights (peak-to-trough) of 12 cm at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and 2 cm at Christiansted, US Virgin Islands. Uplift was observed along the coast from Leogane to L'Acul and subsidence was observed along the coast from Grand Trou to Port Royal. Felt (VII) at Port-au-Prince and Petionville and (V) at Vieux Bourg d'Aquin and Port-de-Paix. Felt (V) at La Vega, Moca and San Cristobal; (IV) at Puerto Plata, Santiago, Santo Domingo and Sosua, Dominican Republic. Felt throughout Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Felt (III) at Oranjestad, Aruba; (IV) at Santiago de Cuba and (III) at Guantanamo, Cuba; (II) in the Kingston-Mona area, Jamaica; (III) at Cockburn Harbour and (II) at Cockburn Town, Turks and Caicos Islands; (II) at Caracas, Venezuela. Felt in parts of The Bahamas, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands and as far as southern Florida, northern Colombia and northwestern Venezuela. 856 12 22 	Iran, Damghan 	200,000 1920 12 16 	Haiyuan, Ningxia (Ning-hsia), China 	200,000 	7.8 	Total destruction (XII - the maximum intensity on the Mercalli scale) in the Lijunbu-Haiyuan-Ganyanchi area. Over 73,000 people were killed in Haiyuan County. A landslide buried the village of Sujiahe in Xiji County. More than 30,000 people were killed in Guyuan County. Nearly all the houses collapsed in the cities of Longde and Huining. Damage (VI-X) occurred in 7 provinces and regions, including the major cities of Lanzhou, Taiyuan, Xi'an, Xining and Yinchuan. It was felt from the Yellow Sea to Qinghai (Tsinghai) Province and from Nei Mongol (Inner Mongolia) south to central Sichuan (Szechwan) Province. About 200 km (125 mi) of surface faulting was seen from Lijunbu through Ganyanchi to Jingtai. There were large numbers of landslides and ground cracks throughout the epicentral area. Some rivers were dammed, others changed course. Seiches from this earthquake were observed in 2 lakes and 3 fjords in western Norway. Although usually called the Kansu (now Gansu) earthquake by Western sources, the epicenter and highest intensities are clearly within Ningxia Autonomous Region. [ 310,92,316 ] 893 03 23 	Iran, Ardabil 	150000 1923 09 01 	Kanto (Kwanto), Japan 	142,800 	7.9 	Extreme destruction in the Tokyo - Yokohama area from the earthquake and subsequent firestorms, which burned about 381,000 of the more than 694,000 houses that were partially or completely destroyed. Although often known as the Great Tokyo Earthquake (or the Great Tokyo Fire), the damage was apparently most severe at Yokohama. Damage also occurred on the Boso and Izu Peninsulas and on O-shima. Nearly 2 m (6 ft) of permanent uplift was observed on the north shore of Sagami Bay and horizontal displacements of as much as 4.5 m (15 ft) were measured on the Boso Peninsula. A tsunami was generated in Sagami Bay with wave heights as high as 12 m (39 ft) on O-shima and 6 m (20 ft) on the Izu and Boso Peninsulas. Sandblows were noted at Hojo which intermittently shot fountains of water to a height of 3 m (10 ft). [ 303,6,312,321 ] 1948 10 05 	Ashgabat (Ashkhabad), Turkmenistan (Turkmeniya, USSR) 	110,000 	7.3 	Extreme damage in Ashgabat (Ashkhabad) and nearby villages, where almost all brick buildings collapsed, concrete structures were heavily damaged and freight trains were derailed. Damage and casualties also occurred in the Darreh Gaz area, Iran. Surface rupture was observed both northwest and southeast of Ashgabat. Many sources list the casualty total at 10,000, but a news release on 9 Dec 1988 advised that the correct death toll was 110,000. [ 233,191 ] 1290 09 27 	China, Chihli 	100,000 2008 05 12 	Eastern Sichuan, China 	87,587 	7.9 	At least 69,195 people killed, 374,177 injured and 18,392 missing and presumed dead in the Chengdu-Lixian-Guangyuan area. More than 45.5 million people in 10 provinces and regions were affected. At least 15 million people were evacuated from their homes and more than 5 million were left homeless. An estimated 5.36 million buildings collapsed and more than 21 million buildings were damaged in Sichuan and in parts of Chongqing, Gansu, Hubei, Shaanxi and Yunnan. The total economic loss was estimated at 86 billion US dollars. Beichuan, Dujiangyan, Wuolong and Yingxiu were almost completely destroyed. Landslides and rockfalls damaged or destroyed several mountain roads and railways and buried buildings in the Beichuan-Wenchuan area, cutting off access to the region for several days. At least 700 people were buried by a landslide at Qingchuan. Landslides also dammed several rivers, creating 34 barrier lakes which threatened about 700,000 people downstream. A train was buried by a landslide near Longnan, Gansu. At least 2,473 dams sustained some damage and more than 53,000 km of roads and 48,000 km of tap water pipelines were damaged. About 1.5 km of surface faulting was observed near Qingchuan, surface cracks and fractures occurred on three mountains in the area, and subsidence and street cracks were observed in the city itself. Maximum intensity XI was assigned in the Wenchuan area. Felt (VIII) at Deyang and Mianyang; (VII) at Chengdu; (VI) at Luzhou and Xi'an; (V) at Chongqing, Guozhen, Lanzhou, Leshan, Wu'an, Xichang and Ya'an. Felt in much of central, eastern and southern China, including Beijing, Guangzhou, Hefei, Nanjing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Wuhan and in Hong Kong. Also felt in parts of Bangladesh, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Seiches were observed at Kotalipara, Bangladesh. 2005 10 08 	Pakistan 	86,000 	7.6 	At least 86,000 people killed, more than 69,000 injured and extensive damage in northern Pakistan. The heaviest damage occurred in the Muzaffarabad area, Kashmir where entire villages were destroyed and at Uri where 80 percent of the town was destroyed. At least 32,335 buildings collapsed in Anantnag, Baramula, Jammu and Srinagar, Kashmir. Buildings collapsed in Abbottabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Islamabad, Lahore and Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Maximum intensity VIII. Felt (VII) at Topi; (VI) at Islamabad, Peshawar and Rawalpindi; (V) at Faisalabad and Lahore. Felt at Chakwal, Jhang, Sargodha and as far as Quetta. At least 1,350 people killed and 6,266 injured in India. Felt (V) at Chandigarh and New Delhi; (IV) at Delhi and Gurgaon, India. Felt in Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh, India. At least one person killed and some buildings collapsed in Afghanistan. Felt (IV) at Kabul and (III) at Bagrami, Afghanistan. Felt (III) at Kashi, China and (II) at Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Also felt at Almaty, Kazakhstan. An estimated 4 million people in the area were left homeless. Landslides and rockfalls damaged or destroyed several mountain roads and highways cutting off access to the region for several days. Landslides also occurred farther north near the towns of Gilgit and Skardu, Kashmir. Liquefaction and sandblows occurred in the western part of the Vale of Kashmir and near Jammu. Landslides and rockfalls also occurred in parts of Himachal Pradesh, India. Seiches were observed in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, India and in many places in Bangladesh. 1667 11 	Caucasia, Shemakha 	80,000 1727 11 18 	Iran, Tabriz 	77,000 1908 12 28 	Messina, Italy 	72,000 	7.2 	Over 40% of the population of Messina and more than 25% of Reggio di Calabria killed by the earthquake and tsunami, as well as by fires in some parts of Messina. Casualty toll is based on census data 1901-1911, some estimates are as high as 110,000. Severe damage in large parts of Calabria and Sicily. Felt throughout Sicily and north to Naples and Campobasso. Also felt on Malta, in Montenegro and Albania and on the Ionian Islands. Tsunami heights of 6-12 m (20-39 ft) observed on the coast of Sicily south of Messina and heights of 6-10 m (20-33 ft) observed along the coast of Calabria. Aftershocks continued into 1913. [ 301,299,A-75 ] 1970 05 31 	Chimbote, Peru 	70,000 	7.9 	About 50,000 people were killed - 20,000 missing and presumed dead - and 150,000 injured in Ancash and La Libertad Departments from the earthquake and a catastrophic debris avalanche of rock, ice and mud which buried the town of Yungay, which had a population of about 20,000. 1755 11 01 	Portugal, Lisbon 	70,000 	8.7 	This earthquake occurred on All Saint's Day while many of the 250,000 inhabitants of Lisbon were in Church. Stone buildings swayed violently and then collapsed on the population. Many who sought safety on the river front were drowned by a large tsunami. Fire ravaged the city. One quarter of Lisbon's population perished. This earthquake had a profound effect on the intellectual outlook of Europe. 1693 01 11 	Italy, Sicily 	60,000 	7.5 1268  	Asia Minor, Silicia 	60,000 1990 06 20 	Western Iran 	40,000 to 50,000 	7.4 	Estimated 40,000 to 50,000 people killed, more than 60,000 injured, 400,000 or more homeless and extensive damage and landslides in the Rasht-Qazvin-Zanjan area, Iran. Nearly all buildings were destroyed in the Rudbar-Manjil area. Substantial damage occurred as far away as Khalkhal and Now Shahr and slight damage occurred at Tehran. Felt in most of northwestern Iran, including Arak, Bakhtaran and Tabriz. Slight damage also occurred in southern Azerbaijan, USSR. Felt (VII) at Astra and Lenkoran; (VI) at Dzhibrail, Lerik, Mossony and Yardyshny; (III) at Baku, USSR. Complex event. 1783 02 04 	Italy, Calabria 	50,000

NOTE: Some sources list an earthquake that killed 300,000 people in Calcutta, India, on October 11, 1737. Recent studies indicate that these casualties were most likely due to a cyclone, not an earthquake. (Source: The 1737 Calcutta Earthquake and Cyclone Evaluated by Roger Bilham, BSSA, Vol. 84, No. 5, 1650-1657, October 1994)

Data compiled from several sources. Names in paraenthesis indicate what the town / region was called at the time of the earthquake.

Will seismologists ever be able to reliably predict the exact location, time and magnitude of earthquakes like the one that just devastated Japan and sent tsunamis racing across the Pacific Ocean? If so, they might be able to save many lives. Consider how many people have been killed by large earthquakes just in the last decade: more than 20,000 people in India in 2001, 30,000 in Iran in 2003, 227,000 in Sumatra in 2004, 86,000 in Pakistan in 2005, 87,000 in China in 2008, and 222,000 in Haiti last year, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Early reports from Japan suggest that the death toll could be in the tens of thousands.

The pioneers of earthquake studies were the Chinese, who began keeping records of where and when earthquakes occurred as early as 780 B.C. In the second century A.D. the Chinese invented a kind of weathervane for detecting and locating the center of earthquakes. The device consisted of a weight delicately suspended in a large bronze urn, ringed by dragons with hinged jaws. Jostling of the urn tipped the weight toward one side of the urn, causing the jaws of the dragon on that side to swing open and release a ball. The ball would supposedly fall on side of the urn from which the earthquake originated.

Modern seismometers are exquisitely sensitive, capable of calculating the exact location and strength of earthquakes on the other side of the planet. Moreover, the theory of plate tectonics—first proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1915 and finally accepted by other scientists in the 1960s--provides a firm foundation for understanding why earthquakes happen. Temblors tend to occur at the boundaries between the vast, shifting plates that comprise the earth’s crust.

A few decades ago, seismological technology and theory had advanced so far that many researchers became confident they could predict the exact date and location of earthquakes, providing time for evacuation and other life-saving measures. In 1985 scientists working with the U.S.G.S. funded an experiment intended to serve as a test bed for earthquake prediction. The experiment was based in Parkfield, Calif., a small town that sits astride the notorious San Andreas fault. Since the mid-1800s, Parker had been struck by earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater every 22 years, on average.

Scientists outfitted the Parkfield fault with seismometers, strain gauges and other sensors that ideally would provide warning of an impending quake. The leaders of the experiment claimed there was a 95 percent probability that an earthquake of magnitude 6 or greater would happen by 1993. This claim—and the possibility of a precise prediction--received much attention from the media, including Scientific American. Parkfield was indeed struck by an earthquake—in 2004, 11 years after the initial prediction period had expired.

Other nations, notably China and Japan, have funded earthquake-prediction programs, but they have not been successful, either. One forecasting method focuses on the minor foreshocks that often portend a large quake. Unfortunately, this method is prone to false alarms, because the vast majority of minor tremors are not followed by major ones. Moreover, not all big quakes are preceded by foreshocks. China claims that foreshock-detection allowed it to successfully predict and evacuate people in the vicinity of a 7.3-magnitude quake in 1975. But over the past 20 years the Chinese program has issued more than 30 false alarms, and it failed to predict the 2008 quake that devastated eastern Sichuan.

Many other prediction methods have been proposed and in some cases tested. These involve detection of such alleged quake precursors as surges in ground water; emissions of the radioactive gas radon; fractoluminescence, or flashes of light emitted by compressed rock; unusual tidal activity; low-frequency electromagnetic waves; and unusual animal behavior. One long-running experiment in Japan involves monitoring catfish, which are supposedly sensitive to electromagnetic activity that precedes quakes. None of these approaches has proven reliable.

On the other hand, science and engineering have helped us reduce the damage of quakes. Whatever the final death toll from Japan's quake turns out to be, it would have been orders of magnitude greater if Japan had not designed its buildings, roads, nuclear power plants and other structures to withstand a vigorous shaking. Fewer than 1,000 people were killed by an enormous, 8.8-magnitude quake that struck Chile last year, because Chile has hardened its infrastructure against quakes. Tsunami-warning networks have also saved lives by quickly disseminating alerts to coastal regions.

So even if seismologists never achieve precise, short-term predictions of earthquakes, there is much that science can do, and has done, to protect us from this ancient scourge.

TECTONIC WEAPONS:

A tectonic weapon is a hypothetical device or system by which a nation could create earthquakes, volcanoes, or similar events in specified locations by interference with the earth's geological processes. See plate tectonics. It was defined in 1992 by Aleksey Vsevolovidich Nikolayev, corresponding member USSR Academy of Sciences: "A tectonic or seismic weapon would be the use of the accumulated tectonic energy of the Earth's deeper layers to induce a destructive earthquake"[1]. He added "to set oneself the objective of inducing an earthquake is extremely doubtful".

Reports

Roger Clark, lecturer in geophysics at Leeds University said in the respected journal Nature in 1996, responding to a newspaper report that there had been two secret Soviet programs, "Mercury" and "Volcano", aimed at developing a "tectonic weapon" that could set off earthquakes from great distance by manipulating electromagnetism, said "We don't think it is impossible, or wrong, but past experience suggests it is very unlikely". According to Nature these programs had been "unofficially known to Western geophysicists for several years". According to the story the Mercury program began in 1987, three tests were conducted in Kyrgyzstan, and Volcano's last test occurred in 1992.[2]

Such weapons, whether or not they exist or are feasible, are a source of concern in official circles. For example US Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen, said on 28 April 1997 at the Conference on Terrorism, Weapons of Mass Destruction, and U.S. Strategy, University of Georgia "Others are engaging even in an eco-type of terrorism whereby they can alter the climate, set off earthquakes, volcanoes remotely through the use of electromagnetic waves."[3]

International treaties

The 1978 Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques is an international treaty ratified by 75 states, and signed by a further 17, that prohibits use of environmental modification techniques to cause earthquakes and tsunamis, amongst other phenomena[4]. After the Haiti earthquake president Hugo Chávez of Venezuela made allegations that it had been caused by testing of a US tectonic weapon[5]. The newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda of Moscow reported on page 1 on 30 May 1992 that "a geophysical or tectonic weapon was actually developed in the USSR despite the UN Convention", but that Chief Seismologist Major-General V Bochrov of the USSR Minister of Defense categorically rejected any hints on the existence of tectonic weapons[6].

References

1. ^ 927N0104A Moscow ZNANIYE-Sila (in Russian) No. 1, Jan 92 p2-13, translated in JPRS Report on Science and Technology, October 1992 2. ^ R Clark, Nature, 10 October 1996, quoted in Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Jan 1997, In Brief section 3. ^ Federation of American Scientists: Address by US Secretary of State at 1997 conference on terrorism 4. ^ US State Department: Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques 5. ^ LiveScience: Chavez: US 'Tectonic Weapon' Caused Haiti Quake, 29 January 2010 6. ^ Komsomolskaya Pravda, 30 May 1992, p1, translated in JPRS Report on Science and Technology, 10 June 1992

When tuned electromagnetic waves intersect they sometimes seem to cancel out, but do they? Is a super potential scalar energy created? Could such a pressure wave be controlled--directed through a quantum universe? Has this happened for years now? Do rogue groups on and off planet wield strange new weapons? Do directed waves go beyond machine technology and actually reside within human potential?

Main article: Induced seismicity from Wikipedia

While most earthquakes are caused by movement of the Earth's tectonic plates, human activity can also produce earthquakes. Four main activities contribute to this phenomenon: constructing large dams and buildings, drilling and injecting liquid into wells, and by coal mining and oil drilling.[24] Perhaps the best known example is the 2008 Sichuan earthquake in China's Sichuan Province in May; this tremor resulted in 69,227 fatalities and is the 19th deadliest earthquake of all time. The Zipingpu Dam is believed to have fluctuated the pressure of the fault 1,650 feet (503 m) away; this pressure probably increased the power of the earthquake and accelerated the rate of movement for the fault.[25] The greatest earthquake in Australia's history was also induced by humanity, through coal mining. The city of Newcastle was built over a large sector of coal mining areas. The earthquake was spawned from a fault which reactivated due to the millions of tonnes of rock removed in the mining process.[26]

Voici un ensemble de questions-reponses d'un site concernant les tremblements de terre. A noter qu'il est mentionne que les essais nucleaires ne peuvent pas provoquer de tremblement de terre comparativement a d'autres sites qui affirment le contraire.L'addresse du site est: http://www.seismo.ethz.ch/info/faq/faq_fr.htm