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

    Metadata Updated: October 18, 2024

    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 September 10, 2024
    Metadata Created Date October 18, 2024
    Metadata Updated Date October 18, 2024
    Reference Date(s) January 1, 1972 (publication)
    Frequency Of Update asNeeded

    Metadata Source

    Harvested from NGDC MGG Hazards WAF

    Other Data Resources

    Graphic Preview

    Global plot of significant earthquakes

    Additional Metadata

    Resource Type Dataset
    Metadata Date September 10, 2024
    Metadata Created Date October 18, 2024
    Metadata Updated Date October 18, 2024
    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 f5cb2c23-eae6-433e-9d9c-85cd34d6a5eb
    Harvest Source Id 7b37b703-805c-4a27-b47f-d471f07b5ed7
    Harvest Source Title NGDC MGG Hazards WAF
    Licence
    Lineage The Significant Earthquake database originated from the Significant Earthquake Catalog (Ganse, Robert A., John B. Nelson, 1981). The aforementioned catalog was an expansion of a file originally created to produce the World Map of Significant Earthquakes 1900 to Present (1979). The database is now updated regularly from sources such as U.S. Geological Survey, national and government databases and reports, earthquake and tsunami catalogs, post-event reconnaissance reports, journal articles, newspapers, internet pages, email and other written documents.
    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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