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Scientific Investigations Map 3064

Seismicity of the Earth 1900–2007

By Arthur C. Tarr,1 Antonio Villaseñor,2 Kevin P. Furlong,3 Susan Rhea,4 and Harley M. Benz4

1 U.S. Geological Survey, Emeritus, Box 25046, MS 966, DFC, Denver, CO 80225 USA
2 Institute of Earth Sciences, CSIC, Lluis Solé i Sabarîs s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
3 Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA 16802 USA
4 U.S. Geological Survey, Box 25046, MS 966, DFC, Denver, CO 80225 USA

Thumbnail of and link to SIM 3064 Sheet PDF (147.1 MB)

This map illustrates more than one century of global seismicity in the context of global plate tectonics and the Earth's physiography. Primarily designed for use by earth scientists and engineers interested in earthquake hazards of the 20th and early 21st centuries, this map provides a comprehensive overview of strong earthquakes since 1900. The map clearly identifies the location of the "great" earthquakes (M8.0 and larger) and the rupture area, if known, of the M8.3 or larger earthquakes. The earthquake symbols are scaled proportional to the moment magnitude and therefore to the area of faulting, thus providing a better understanding of the relative sizes and distribution of earthquakes in the magnitude range 5.5 to 9.5. Plotting the known rupture area of the largest earthquakes also provides a better appreciation of the extent of some of the most famous and damaging earthquakes in modern history. All earthquakes shown on the map were carefully relocated using a standard earth reference model and standardized location procedures, thereby eliminating gross errors and biases in locations of historically important earthquakes that are often found in numerous seismicity catalogs.

First posted July 12, 2010

For additional information contact:

USGS Geologic Hazards Science Center
Box 25046, MS-966
Denver Federal Center
Denver, CO 80225-0046

http://geohazards.cr.usgs.gov/

Part or all of this report is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF); the latest version of Adobe Reader or similar software is required to view it. Download the latest version of Adobe Reader, free of charge.


Suggested citation:

Tarr, A.C., Villaseñor, Antonio, Furlong, K.P., Rhea, Susan, and Benz, H.M., 2010, Seismicity of the Earth 1900–2007: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3064, 1 sheet, scale 1:25,000,000.


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