169:" In regards of notability the geographical scope of an earthquake is important only for the extent of damage, or the number of people impacted. An earthquake impacting only a large swath of ocean bottom is not notable, nor one affecting only a few neighbors (even if they are spread out across much of Alaska). For notable earthquakes the geographical scope of "very strong" shaking (MMI ≥ VII) is roughly a hundred kilometers (60 miles) across, with significant damage or disruption of services at the epicenter.
24:
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is notable, but the event triggering it is not.) Note that "lasting" might not be determinable immediately following an event, especially regarding scientific significance. Breaching and flooding of the Tokyo subway system due to an earthquake would be an effect that could be confidently expected to
223:
means coverage that goes beyond mere routine news reporting of the event, or inclusion in a list or catalog, to describe the impact of the event, or includes analysis that puts the event into context. Significant in-depth coverage is the basis of having enough material to write an article. Inability
354:
the greatest impacts were in
Oakland and San Francisco's Mission District, and it was small consolation that the epicenter was 60 miles away.) To simply compare epicenters in a small area is misleading, as a distant earthquake might have equal or even greater impact. A better comparison would be of
87:
Earthquakes, when not cataclysmic, are exciting. Though earthquakes of magnitude 4 ("light": in general felt by many, but little or no damage) and greater occur over 14,000 times a year, in many areas they are uncommon. So even small earthquakes are often an experience that the people affected want
442:
A handful of deaths might be due to a single vehicular accident, and (for the area affected) perhaps no greater than the usual death rate due to vehicular accidents, and likely not notable. On the other hand, a death toll of hundreds of people, even if only transiently notable, likely reflects a
376:" – to rank earthquakes by nominal "size". However, earthquakes vary in how much energy is delivered to the earth's surface in the form of damaging shaking. In particular, deeper earthquakes have weaker interactions with the surface, and spread that energy over a larger area. Other
355:
the shaking experienced from any earthquake, including distant but more powerful earthquakes. But such a comparison would be very localized, lacking geographical scope. And shaking that does not have a lasting impact is not notable.
417:(which is only indirectly connected with the quake's magnitude), the best estimator of possible impact is probably the intensity of shaking over some areal extent. These can be estimated from the intensity and ShakeMaps on the
248:
the earthquake of interest, not merely mentioned in connection with something else. Where scientific notability is claimed for an event that otherwise lacks notability, that will need to be explained; this may require
304:
earthquake will be "the biggest since" – until a bigger quake occurs. An earthquake "bigger than" another notable earthquake is likely notable on its own basis, but not because it merely has a bigger magnitude.
674:
m) A significant earthquake occurring in a region not known for such earthquakes, or with a greater magnitude expected, or a recurring earthquake that returns much sooner (or later) than expected, may be
656:
generally indicate a powerful, and probably a notable, earthquake (or poor construction), but a notable earthquake might not kill anyone, while even a non-notable quake might rack up a handful of deaths.
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It has been a standing joke among seismologists that for fifty years almost every earthquake which has reached noteworthy intensity at Eureka, California, was reported as the strongest there since 1906.
184:" On the other hand, a small quake that causes a notable structure to collapse, or triggers a landslide that dams a river that floods a large area that leads to the founding of a dynasty (see
647:
earthquakes (generally in continental interiors, such as North
America east of the Rocky Mountains) generally have stronger and more widespread effects than similar earthquakes elsewhere.
538:
6-) or greater is generally necessary but not sufficient for notability. Remember that notability is not in the intensity of shaking, but in having some kind of enduring impact.
439:(due to secondary disasters, or to consequent lack of medical care, food, or shelter). Fatalities are strongly dependent on factors beyond an earthquake's magnitude.
679:
on that basis, but this will have to be explained. Same for other earthquakes of scientific significance, but the significance might not rise to notability.
406:
versus non-cratonic) and local geology and sediments, while actual damage is also a function of the environment, built and natural. (E.g.: extensive URM –
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means that coverage is not temporary or ephemeral, but continues beyond the weekly news cycle, and presumably reflects a continuing impact or interest.
122:
to earthquakes, and the specific guidelines that have been developed to assess whether an earthquake is sufficiently notable for its own article.
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Independently of any societal impact, earthquakes can have scientific impact. Evidence of this could be a large number of entries in the
176:. A great intensity of shaking would greatly affect those who experience it, but in itself is ephemeral, merely a passing event. And here
358:
39:
It contains the advice or opinions of one or more
Knowledge contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of
331:
Even a smallish frog (event) can create a noticeable splash in a quiet – that is, aseismic – "pond". Note that the key factor is
470:
The following criteria are what experienced editors have found characterize notable and non-notable earthquakes. These are not
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earthquakes are generally notable on account of a strong and enduring impact, with much coverage, but exceptions may exist.
188:) has a large impact. (Although there might not be enough to say about the quake itself for an article. In such a case the
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to share, especially in areas where earthquakes are rare. But how many of these quakes warrant an article on
Knowledge?
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in X. While an earthquake's greatest impact is often near the epicenter, that is not always true. (In the
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be lasting, but the effects of most minor (M ~4) earthquakes are negligible to start, and rapidly fade.
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Notable events usually have significant impact over a wide region, domain, or widespread societal group.
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501:(or websites that echo the catalogs) is routine, and therefore does not indicate notability. However,
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i) Earthquakes deeper than about 60 km have less impact on the surface than shallower earthquakes.
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A minor earthquake or storm with little or no impact on human populations is probably not notable.
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event in an arbitrarily selected locale or period ("since Y") does not confer notability. (See
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scales may be more correlative with shaking, and thus impact, than the moment magnitude scale (
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As the impact of an earthquake on human society arises mainly from the degree and extent of
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The biggest earthquake in eastern Podunk County since the last barely noticeable earthquake
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in a pond, by making the pond small enough. Comparison of insignificant events – such as "
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the size of the "frog", but the level of "quietness" over some period of time. (Consider
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547:(30 miles) is probably notable, provided there are other impacts of an enduring nature.
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level and extent of damage of more enduring impact. (E.g.: the lasting impact of the
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296:" – does not confer notability. Nor is comparison with a notable event – such as "
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As with any other event, the principal criteria of an earthquake's notability are
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Claims like "biggest earthquake in region X" tend to focus on earthquakes with
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Actual shaking is also dependent on the type of tectonic basement (such as
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636:(plutonic) earthquakes (depth exceeding 300 km) may have minimal impact.
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Fatalities are another measure of an earthquake's impact. These can be
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earthquakes are probably notable, but should meet additional criteria.
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scales, are often better estimators of potential damage. (But see
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to expand a stub is an indication that the topic is not notable.
435:(due to landslides, or to failure of the built environment), or
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for mass casualties in schools, which led to passage of the
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was not the ~120 fatalities, but the clearly evident
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161:(which is loosely related to magnitude), and here
95:. General guidance for assessing notability is at
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696:Charles Richter commented in his 1958 textbook,
465:significant and enduring impact on human society
298:the largest earthquake in California since 1906
103:). Guidance for assessing the notability of
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505:being listed in the USGS-ANSS "
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57:Shortcuts
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437:indirect
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315:Shortcut
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229:Duration
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205:that is
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65:WP:N(EQ)
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415:quaking
348:effects
536:Shindo
433:direct
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105:events
684:Notes
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563:M 7+
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423:ANSS
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