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NCEI/WDS Global Significant Earthquake Database, 2150 BC to Present

Metadata Updated: July 9, 2021

The Significant Earthquake Database is a global listing of over 5,700 earthquakes from 2150 BC to the present. A significant earthquake is classified as one that meets at least one of the following criteria: caused deaths, caused moderate damage (approximately $1 million or more), magnitude 7.5 or greater, Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) X or greater, or the earthquake generated a tsunami. The database provides information on the date and time of occurrence, latitude and longitude, focal depth, magnitude, maximum MMI intensity, and socio-economic data such as the total number of casualties, injuries, houses destroyed, and houses damaged, and $ dollage damage estimates. References, political geography, and additional comments are also provided for each earthquake. If the earthquake was associated with a tsunami or volcanic eruption, it is flagged and linked to the related tsunami event or significant volcanic eruption.

Access & Use Information

License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

Downloads & Resources

Dates

Metadata Date July 8, 2021
Metadata Created Date November 12, 2020
Metadata Updated Date July 9, 2021
Reference Date(s) January 1, 1972 (publication)
Frequency Of Update asNeeded

Metadata Source

Harvested from NGDC MGG Hazards WAF

Graphic Preview

Global plot of significant earthquakes

Additional Metadata

Resource Type Dataset
Metadata Date July 8, 2021
Metadata Created Date November 12, 2020
Metadata Updated Date July 9, 2021
Reference Date(s) January 1, 1972 (publication)
Responsible Party DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce (Point of Contact)
Contact Email
Guid gov.noaa.ngdc.mgg.hazards:G012153
Access Constraints Cite as: National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS): NCEI/WDS Global Significant Earthquake Database. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K [access date], Access to this dataset is unrestricted., While every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of the current state of the art, NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty.
Bbox East Long 180
Bbox North Lat 71
Bbox South Lat -63
Bbox West Long -179
Coupled Resource
Frequency Of Update asNeeded
Graphic Preview Description Global plot of significant earthquakes
Graphic Preview File https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazard/icons/sigeqsm.jpg
Graphic Preview Type jpg
Harvest Object Id 601816e0-a806-4c2a-94f7-219fb95d1fb2
Harvest Source Id 7b37b703-805c-4a27-b47f-d471f07b5ed7
Harvest Source Title NGDC MGG Hazards WAF
Licence
Metadata Language eng; USA
Metadata Type geospatial
Old Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[-179.0, -63.0], [180.0, -63.0], [180.0, 71.0], [-179.0, 71.0], [-179.0, -63.0]]]}
Progress underDevelopment
Spatial Data Service Type
Spatial Reference System
Spatial Harvester True
Temporal Extent Begin -2150

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