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Tuesday, September 23, 2014 18:11:07 UTC
Depth: 32.00 km (19.88 mi)
Tuesday, September 23, 2014 11:45:25 UTC
Depth: 75.00 km (46.60 mi)
Tuesday, September 23, 2014 07:13:13 UTC
Depth: 23.00 km (14.29 mi)
It seems that every few months we hear of another major earthquake in some part of the world.
What is a "normal" amount of earthquakes? How many major and great earthquakes have occurred in the 21st century? Are major earthquakes increasing? Might human beings be causing earthquakes? What does the Bible teach about earthquakes? What did Jesus teach about earthquakes? What does the Book of Revelation teach about earthquakes? Does the Bible predict the big one? Are the recent earthquakes indications that Bible prophecy is being fulfilled? Where are earthquakes happening now? Where are earthquakes today?
This article will attempt to provide solid answers to each of these questions.
Based on records kept since 1900, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) expects a yearly total of about 17-20 major earthquakes and less than one great earthquake.
Major earthquakes are defined as those between 7.0 and 7.9 on the Richter scale, while great earthquakes are classified as 8.0 and above (Cherundolo G. Are Earthquakes Really Increasing? March 9, 2010. http://www.accuweather.com/blogs/news/story/25904/has-the-number-of-earthquakes.asp).
Earthquake Magnitude Scale
Magnitude Earthquake Effects Estimated Number
2.5 or less Usually not felt, but can be recorded by seismograph. 900,000 2.5 to 5.4 Often felt, but only causes minor damage. 30,000 5.5 to 6.0 Slight damage to buildings and other structures. 500 6.1 to 6.9 May cause a lot of damage in very populated areas. 100 7.0 to 7.9 Major earthquake. Serious damage. 20 8.0 or greater Great earthquake. Can totally destroy communities near the epicenter. One every 5 to 10 years
Earthquake Magnitude Classes
Earthquakes are also classified in categories ranging from minor to great, depending on their magnitude.
Class Magnitude Great 8 or more Major 7 - 7.9 Strong 6 - 6.9 Moderate 5 - 5.9 Light 4 - 4.9 Minor 3 -3.9
http://www.geo.mtu.edu/UPSeis/magnitude.html viewed 08/27/14
There seemed to have been an increase in earthquakes around 1900 as well as 1940, and lately. This means that though there are averages, some periods of time end up with more as the USGS indicates that earthquakes often come in "clusters" (Cherundolo G. Are Earthquakes Really Increasing? March 9, 2010. http://www.accuweather.com/blogs/news/story/25904/has-the-number-of-earthquakes.asp).
Various sources track earthquakes.
Here is a link to a list of earthquakes for every year this century:
From April 2010 to March 2011, I counted that there were 16 major and 1 great earthquakes.
From April 2011 to March 2012, I counted that there were 14 major and 0 great earthquakes.
From April 2012 to March 2013, I counted that there were 13 major and 3 great earthquakes.
From April 2013 to March 2014, I counted that there were 13 major and 1 great earthquakes.
The first three days of April 2014 had 1 major and 1 great earthquake.
In the past eight years or so, there were about 14 USGS defined great earthquakes. This exceeds the 'norm.'
Roger Meyers reported the following about the power and frequency of earthquakes on March 29, 2011:
The old Richter scale has been replaced with the Moment Magnitude scale, though results are usually similar to the Richter scale. Either earthquake measuring scale is somewhat misleading if you aren’t familiar with it. For instance, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake produces 10 times more ground motion than a magnitude 6.2 earthquake, but the energy released is 32 times greater. But the energy released in an 8.2 magnitude quake is 1000 times more than the 6.2 magnitude quake...
The United States Geological Service records hundreds of thousands of earthquakes that occur every yea