Earth Science Stack Exchange
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Questions tagged [earthquakes]

Questions regarding a sudden release of seismic waves into the Earth's crust. As well as the causes of earthquakes, their consequences and physics.

An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is the shaking of the surface of the Earth, resulting from the sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves.

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How to compare earthquake magnitudes

On the USGS website, it says Because of the logarithmic basis of the scale, each whole number increase in magnitude represents a tenfold increase in measured amplitude; However my book says this: Like many other scales in science (decibel is…
TeamA1
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Would the shaking of an earthquake be visible to somebody in a low-flying aircraft?

If you are in an airplane well above ground level, but low enough to see the faces of people relatively easily, and an earthquake happens, will you see the ground shake?
carl sagan
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Nepal earthquake of 25 April 2015

On the 25th of April at about 11-12pm, an earthquake whose epicenter was in Nepal was felt with a magnitude of 7.5 in Delhi NCR, as well as in other Indian states (Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand, and many more). What were the reasons behind it?
Ravi PK
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Where are earthquakes felt more: on top of a building or on the ground floor?

I have this notion that at the top, the building will be more likely to shake than at the bottom, where it is grounded. So, how does it work with an earthquake? Who would be more likely to perceive a small earthquake? Someone at the ground floor, or…
Fernando César S.
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largest earthquake not in a subduction zone

Whats the largest earthquake since 1900 that was not in a subduction zone (not a megathrust). Wikipedia says that Since 1900, all earthquakes of magnitude 9.0 or greater have been megathrust earthquakes. No other type of known terrestrial source of…
R. Emery
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Epicenter of earthquake at sea - is it a point on ocean surface or sea bed?

When an earthquakes' focus is below the sea bed, is the epicenter given as a point on the oceans' surface at mean sea level, or as a point on the sea bed? There is some ambiguity in the term 'earths surface' here that is causing confusion in the…
Niall Cosgrove
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What Magnitude does it Feel Like when Far Away in an Earthquake?

I can't find a good way to say this but, if I had some info about an earthquake (i.e. magnitude 8, originating in water) and if I had a distance (i.e. 850 miles/ 1370 km) could I calculate what it would be if that specific location was the…
Nikhil R.
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Locating an seismic epicenter

I understand how to find an epicenter using three sensor locations and why three locations are needed. Is it possible, though very improbable, to find an epicenter if you only have two seismic stations that are positioned in a way where the…
jake
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Could an earthquake on flat land still kill someone without any buildings/boulders or such near by?

Suppose you were sitting near the epicenter of an earthquake, sitting down on flat land without much else near by, maybe some grass. Is it still possible that say, a magnitude 8 or 9 earthquake would be lethal, assuming you can spread out enough to…
MoreQuestions3
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Conversion of body wave magnitude to moment magnitude

I have been tasked with homogenizing a catalog of events obtained from the USGS website, however, the data is a mix of different type of magnitude measures. How do I convert the different type of magnitude to moment magnitude and what do they depend…
Stephen Jacob
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Does the moon have any affect on earthquakes being created?

Here, in New Zealand, we just had a 7.5 magnitude earthquake hit. Alot of people are saying that the super moon caused this. I have doubts as to the super moon actually 'causing' it but could have it contributed to the earthquake due to its stronger…
AnonDCX
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Can two earthquakes happen at the same time?

I wanted to know if two earthquakes can happen at the same time in the same area? I "think" this can happen, but I'm not totally sure? I understand tectonic plates sliding against each other can cause an earthquake, but is it possible for two to…
Desi Love
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Confusion on the Nepal earthquake expert statements

Nepal hit by second huge earthquake and more are still to come Equally big earthquake coming in eastern region of Nepal Nepal quake followed historic pattern The experts on mentioned on the first and second link says that the big earthquake is…
Four Seasons
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Which point of an earthquake wave is considered as the earthquake's time?

For example, Time for the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake is 2023-02-06 01:17:35 What time does this exactly represent, the start of earthquake's wave or pick of the wave or something else?
user28480
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Could the 5.7 earthquake in Utah be a precursor to a larger one?

Trying to verify the validity of a rumor. https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/uu60363602/executive
Bryan
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