1. What was the MOST destructive earthquake in history?
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 ]
2. How much power is a 8.7 magnitude EQ than a 5.8 magnitude? A magnitude 8.7 earthquake is 794 times BIGGER on a seismogram than a magnitude 5.8 earthquake
3. How many 2.0 magnitude or ABOVE EQ occurred in Alaska in 2010?
60 km (40 miles) ENE of Yunaska Island, Alaska
65 km (40 miles) W of Nikolski, Alaska
1515 km (940 miles) WSW of Anchorage, Alaska
2295 km (1420 miles) W of JUNEAU, Alaska
215 km (130 miles) NNW of Farallon de Pajaros, N. Mariana Islands
385 km (240 miles) SE of Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, Japan
795 km (495 miles) NNW of SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands
975 km (600 miles) N of HAGATNA, Guam
10 km (5 miles) ESE of Christchurch, New Zealand
225 km (140 miles) SSE of Westport, New Zealand
300 km (185 miles) SSW of WELLINGTON, New Zealand
315 km (195 miles) NE of Dunedin, New Zealand
5. Which EQ is more devastating , TECTONIC or VOLCANIC??? TECTONIC
6. What were the three recent earthquakes in the US?
a. Alaska - Rat Islands region 04:31 PM AKST Sunday February 20th, 2011
b. California - Lopez Point, CA 2011/02/25 08:53:09 36.208N 121.528W 9.5
c. Arksansas - Feb 18, 2011 ... GREENBRIER, AR EARTHQUAKE SWARM. This earthquake is part of a swarm of earthquakes that began on Tuesday February 15, 2011 and is continuing ... today.
7. Provide all the information you can possible about the New Zealand EQ yesterday.
a. time of the day it hit -
Monday, February 21, 2011 at 23:51:43 UTC
Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 12:51:43 PM at epicenter
b. magnitude - 6.3
c. $$$$ in destruction -
d. ### of deaths - 98
e. ## of missing - 200
f. city or rural area - christ church is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of Christchurch.
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 ]
2. How much power is a 8.7 magnitude EQ than a 5.8 magnitude? A magnitude 8.7 earthquake is 794 times BIGGER on a seismogram than a magnitude 5.8 earthquake
3. How many 2.0 magnitude or ABOVE EQ occurred in Alaska in 2010?
65 km (40 miles) W of Nikolski, Alaska
1515 km (940 miles) WSW of Anchorage, Alaska
2295 km (1420 miles) W of JUNEAU, Alaska
M-type=centroid moment magnitude (Mw), Version=9
385 km (240 miles) SE of Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, Japan
795 km (495 miles) NNW of SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands
975 km (600 miles) N of HAGATNA, Guam
M-type=body wave magnitude (Mb), Version=8
.
225 km (140 miles) SSE of Westport, New Zealand
300 km (185 miles) SSW of WELLINGTON, New Zealand
315 km (195 miles) NE of Dunedin, New Zealand
M-type=body wave magnitude (Mb), Version=5
5. Which EQ is more devastating , TECTONIC or VOLCANIC??? TECTONIC
6. What were the three recent earthquakes in the US?
a. Alaska - Rat Islands region 04:31 PM AKST Sunday February 20th, 2011
b. California - Lopez Point, CA 2011/02/25 08:53:09 36.208N 121.528W 9.5
c. Arksansas - Feb 18, 2011 ... GREENBRIER, AR EARTHQUAKE SWARM. This earthquake is part of a swarm of earthquakes that began on Tuesday February 15, 2011 and is continuing ... today.
7. Provide all the information you can possible about the New Zealand EQ yesterday.
a. time of the day it hit -
- Monday, February 21, 2011 at 23:51:43 UTC
- Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 12:51:43 PM at epicenter
b. magnitude - 6.3c. $$$$ in destruction -
d. ### of deaths - 98
e. ## of missing - 200
f. city or rural area - christ church is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of Christchurch.