Earthquakes are powerful and destructive natural phenomena that have been around since the beginning of time. They have caused death and destruction on a massive scale and have had a lasting impact on our planet and its inhabitants. In this blog post, we will explore the major earthquakes of our time, their causes, the areas most prone to them, the frequency of earthquakes, and predictions of future major earthquakes.
Table of Contents
- What causes an Earthquake
- Recent Major Earthquakes
- Past Major Earthquakes
- Most Prone Areas
- Frequency
- Predictions
What causes an Earthquake
They are caused by the shifting of tectonic plates beneath the Earth’s surface. It occur when two blocks of the Earth’s crust suddenly move past each other. The shifting of the plates causes vibrations that can be felt on the surface of the Earth. It can also be caused by volcanic activity, landslides, and explosions.
Earthquakes happen because of a combination of factors, including the size and shape of the Earth’s plates, as well as their interaction with one another. As plates shift and move, they can cause pressure to build up until it is released in the form of an earthquake. The magnitude of it depends on the amount of energy released at the point of origin and its distance from populated areas.
It is measured by its magnitude, which is determined by how strong the vibrations were at its point of origin. The magnitude is expressed as a number on a Richter scale or a moment magnitude scale. A higher number on either scale indicates a more powerful earthquake. Earthquakes with a magnitude of 4.5 or greater can cause damage to structures near their epicentre.
Recent Major Earthquakes
On 21 March 2023 Afghanistan and Badakhshan were hit with magnitude 6.5 and depth was 187.6 km , death toll was 21.
On March 18 2023 Ecuador Guayas was hit with a magnitude of 6.8 and had depth of 65.8 km and death toll was 18.
On February 6, 2023, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit southern and central Turkey and northern and western Syria. The epicenter was 37 kilometers (23 miles) west-northwest of Gaziantep. In parts of Antakya, Hatay province, the earthquake had a maximum Mercalli intensity of XII (extreme). It was followed by Mw7. The magnitude 7 earthquake at 1:24 p.m. was centered 95 km (59 miles) north-northeast of the first earthquake. It caused widespread destruction and tens of thousands of deaths.
The past decade has seen its fair share of major earthquakes around the world. In 2020, the strongest of the year was an 8.1 magnitude quake that struck off the coast of Mexico on June 23rd. This was followed by a 7.4 magnitude quake that struck near Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands on January 7th of the same year.
In 2019, the most devastating earthquake was a magnitude 7.1 quake that hit near Ridgecrest, California on July 5th. The largest earthquake in Japan’s history was also in 2019, with a magnitude of 8.2 on June 18th.
2018 saw a magnitude 8.2 earthquake off the coast of Alaska, followed by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake in Sulawesi, Indonesia, and then another 8.2 magnitude quake in Papua New Guinea.
2017 witnessed multiple strong quakes around the world, including a magnitude 7.8 in Ecuador, a 7.3 in the Iran-Iraq border region, and a 6.7 in the Caribbean Sea. The strongest earthquake of 2016 was a magnitude 8.3 quake off the coast of Chile, while 2015’s strongest quake was an 8.3 magnitude tremor in Chile as well.
The largest earthquake of 2014 happened off the coast of Chile as well with a magnitude of 8.2, while 2013’s strongest earthquake was a 7.7 magnitude in Pakistan. In 2012, an 8.6 magnitude quake hit near Indonesia and 2011’s strongest quake was an 8.9 magnitude tremor off the coast of Japan.
Finally, the strongest earthquake of 2010 was a magnitude 8.8 tremor that struck near Concepcion, Chile on February 27th.
These are just a few of the major cases from recent years, highlighting the seismic activity that can take place at any time across the world.
It occur due to the movement of tectonic plates, which form part of Earth’s outer crust. These tectonic plates grind against each other along fault lines which causes large amounts of energy to be released in the form of vibrations, or seismic waves.
This energy can travel large distances and cause extensive damage when it reaches land, shaking buildings and roads and causing landslides or tsunamis. Some areas are more prone to frequent earthquakes due to their geological location along fault lines. These areas include places like California, Japan, Chile, India, Pakistan, and other areas located along the Ring of Fire.
The Frequency of these earthquakes varies greatly depending on the tectonic plates involved and how active they are with each other. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to predict when or where an earthquake may occur due to its unpredictable nature.
The 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami off the east coast of Japan was the fourth-largest earthquake ever recorded on a seismograph, registering a magnitude of 9.0 and killing over 15,000 people. This triggered a massive tsunami that flooded thousands of coastal towns in Japan and caused extensive damage to nuclear power plants in the area.
The deadliest earthquake ever recorded was the Shaanxi Earthquake of 1556 in China which killed an estimated 830,000 people. This magnitude 8.0 quake struck the Sichuan province and left much of the region devastated.
The 2010 Haiti Earthquake was another tragic event that caused extensive damage to the country and its citizens. With a magnitude of 7.0, it destroyed the capital city of Port-au-Prince and left millions homeless and hundreds of thousands dead or injured.
These are just a few of the most devastating earthquakes that have occurred in recent times, but there have been many more large earthquakes around the world since humans began recording them in seismographs. It can strike anywhere at any time, so it’s important to be aware of our environment and prepare for the unexpected.
Past Major Earthquakes
Earthquakes have been occurring for thousands of years and there have been some truly devastating events throughout human history. The 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami that hit Southeast Asia were one of the most catastrophic events of recent times, killing over 230,000 people in 14 countries, leaving millions homeless and causing billions of dollars in damage. The magnitude 9.1 earthquake was centered off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia and is considered the third-largest ever recorded on a seismograph.
The Great Alaskan Earthquake of 1964 is another significant event that stands out in the annals of natural disasters. This magnitude 9.2 earthquakes shook the Aleutian Islands off Alaska and caused huge landslides, tsunamis, and other destruction. It also triggered a tsunami that struck Japan and Alaska, causing further devastation. This was the second-largest earthquake ever recorded on a seismograph and is still the largest ever recorded in North America.
Most Prone Areas
They can occur anywhere in the world, but certain areas that are more prone to them than others. The largest earthquakes have tended to occur along plate boundaries, particularly subduction zones, where one plate is diving beneath another. Subduction zones are located mainly around the Pacific Ocean, including parts of the Americas, Alaska, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan and the coasts of Indonesia and New Guinea.
The Ring of Fire is a horseshoe-shaped belt of volcanoes and seismic activity that circles the Pacific Ocean. This area contains 452 volcanoes and is responsible for approximately 90 percent of all earthquakes worldwide. Other notable seismic regions include the Middle East, India, China, and the Mediterranean Sea.
The Mediterranean region is also known for its seismic activity, with several major fault lines running through countries such as Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Algeria is one of the most prone areas.
The Himalayas is the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates has led to the formation of the world’s tallest mountain range, but also makes the region highly prone.
The archipelago nation indonesia is situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire and experiences frequent quakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis.
More recently, large earthquakes have been occurring along the U.S. West Coast, including California and Washington. There is still a great deal of research to be done on why this area is particularly prone to large earthquakes, but it is likely related to the complex network of fault lines located here. The San Andreas Fault is the most famous example and runs from northern California to Mexico.
No matter where you are in the world, it is important to be aware of your area’s seismic activity and to know what to do if it strikes. Make sure you are familiar with your area’s risk level and have an emergency plan in place.
Frequency
They can occur at any time, but they do have some patterns in frequency. Typically, most of the world’s earthquakes occur along plate boundaries. For example, more than 80% of the world’s earthquakes and approximately 81% of the world’s largest earthquakes occur along the circum-Pacific belt. This belt is known as the “Ring of Fire” and it follows the boundaries of the Pacific Plate. In addition to these plate boundary locations, there are some other areas where quakes occur regularly, such as within large intraplate earthquake zones or regions of elevated seismic activity, such as in California, Japan, and other places around the world.
Generally, the frequency of these varies from place to place, but usually, large earthquakes will happen less often than small earthquakes. On average, about 7.2 magnitude earthquakes will happen once per year. However, the most recent USGS data suggests that there are an average of 20 magnitudes 7.0 or greater every year. While this may sound like a lot, these earthquakes typically cause much less damage than smaller earthquakes because they occur deeper below the surface and they don’t last as long.
The frequency of these is also affected by location. For example, certain areas are much more prone to earthquakes than others. Areas that are near active plate boundaries are usually at a higher risk for experiencing more frequent earthquakes than those further away from plate boundaries. Additionally, some areas have naturally occurring seismic activity that is unrelated to plate tectonic activity, such as in California and Japan. Earthquakes in these areas occur more frequently due to their geological characteristics.
Predictions
These are complex events that cannot be accurately predicted. Scientists have used historical data to develop models that can make predictions about when and where it might occur. For example, they have been able to predict the likelihood of an earthquake occurring in certain areas at certain times, based on the area’s seismic history. However, these predictions are not precise and are often inaccurate due to a lack of understanding of the exact causes of these.
Despite this, scientists are actively researching new methods for predicting it. In particular, research has been focused on using satellite and other geophysical data to detect changes in the Earth’s crust that could indicate an impending earthquake. This is known as ‘remote sensing’ and involves gathering data from multiple sources to assess changes in the environment that could indicate an impending quake.
The development of effective remote sensing techniques could revolutionise the prediction, allowing scientists to provide more accurate forecasts in advance of a quake. This could help people prepare better and potentially save lives. Despite the potential benefits, remote sensing is still in its infancy and much work remains to be done before it can be used reliably for prediction.
