gov.noaa.ngdc.mgg.hazards:G01142 eng; USA utf8 dataset NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information pointOfContact 2025-05-08 ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata - Part 2: Extensions for Imagery and Gridded Data ISO 19115-2:2009(E) United States Earthquake Intensity Database, 1638-1985 (Superseded Version) 1972-01-01 publication First International DOI Foundation (IDF) doi:10.25921/wa4z-d240 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information NCEI Metadata ID: gov.noaa.ngdc.mgg.hazards:G01142 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information publisher United States Geological Survey > Earthquakes Hazards Program 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 905 Reston Virginia 20192 USA https://earthquake.usgs.gov/ http United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquakes Hazards Program The USGS Earthquake Hazards Program is part of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), established by Congress in 1977. We monitor and report earthquakes, assess earthquake impacts and hazards, and research the causes and effects of earthquakes. information originator tableDigital The NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information decommissioned the United States Earthquake Intensity Database, 1638-1985 on May 05, 2025 with no further updates. Upon termination, the underlying data will be available from https://doi.org/10.25921/wa4z-d240. Comments and questions may be sent to: ncei.info@noaa.gov. Note this metadata record is accompanied by another newer version of metadata for the same product. The United States Earthquake Intensity Database is a collection of damage and felt reports for over 23,000 U.S. earthquakes from 1638-1985. The majority of intensities are for U.S. cities, but there are also a few earthquakes and intensities for Panama (1925-1975), the Philippines (1926-1937), and Mexico (1887-1981). The data were compiled from various publications, newspaper reports, and special catalogs. The annual serial "United States Earthquakes," is the principal data source and provides 90 percent of the observations. Most records in the file contain the date and time of occurrence and location of the earthquake, magnitude, focal depth, two-digit state code, name and coordinates of observing city or town, the observed intensity at each town, and the distance from city (or locality) to epicenter. The file consists of more than 150,000 earthquake intensity observations. The data file serves as an important information source for the preparation of intensity histories that are useful for environmental and hazard impact statements. The file is static and is no longer being updated. Environmental and hazard impact studies, Research United States Geological Survey (USGS), United States Earthquakes, published annually by: Coast and Geodetic Survey from 1928-68; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from 1969-72; NOAA/U.S. Geological Survey from 1973-80; and U.S. Geological Survey from 1981-1986. completed NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information pointOfContact notPlanned There are no plans to update the data in this collection. https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazard/img/usaint.jpg Map of earthquake intensity locations. jpg Earth Science > Solid Earth > Seismology > Earthquake Occurrences Earth Science > Solid Earth > Seismology > Earthquake Dynamics Earth Science > Solid Earth > Tectonics > Continental Tectonics theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords 2024 revision 19 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2024. GCMD Keywords, Version 19. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian INFOTERRA > Disasters > Catastrophic phenomena > Earthquakes INFOTERRA > Lithosphere > Seismic activity > Seismic activity INFOTERRA > Lithosphere > Seismic monitoring > Seismic monitoring theme INFOTERRA Keyword Thesaurus Epicenter Hypocenter theme Uncontrolled Keywords Seismographs Seismometers instrument Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords 2020-01-09 publication 9.1 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2024. GCMD Keywords, Version 19. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian ICSU-WDS > International Council for Science - World Data System project Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Project Keywords 2020-01-09 publication 9.1 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2024. GCMD Keywords, Version 19. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian Global place Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords 2024 revision 19 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2024. GCMD Keywords, Version 19. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NGDC > National Geophysical Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce dataCentre Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords 2020-01-09 publication 9.1 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2024. GCMD Keywords, Version 19. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian otherRestrictions Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives. otherRestrictions Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose. otherRestrictions Cite as: United States Geological Survey (USGS), United States Earthquakes, published annually by: Coast and Geodetic Survey from 1928-68; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from 1969-72; NOAA/U.S. Geological Survey from 1973-80; and U.S. Geological Survey from 1981-1986 (2025). U.S. Earthquake Intensity Database (1638–1985) (NCEI Accession 0303634). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Unpublished Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/wa4z-d240. Accessed [date]. Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale of 1931 1931-12-01 publication Wood, Harry O. author Neumann, Frank author https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/ssa/bssa/article-pdf/21/4/277/5299070/bssa0210040277.pdf Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale of 1931 download Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America 21(4) pp. 277-283 crossReference sciencePaper eng; USA geoscientificInformation -180.000000 180.000000 4.000000 69.000000 1638-06-11 1985-12-31 Event Date physicalMeasurement Earthquake Parameters physicalMeasurement Latitude Distance measured north or south from the equator. Distance north is positive, distance south is negative. 90.00000 -90.00000 decimal degrees decimal degrees Longitude Longitude is measured from the Prime Meridian (which is the north/south line that runs through Greenwich, England), values measured east are positive and values measured west are negative. 180.00000 -180.00000 decimal degrees decimal degrees Focal Depth The depth of the earthquake is given in kilometers, positive downward. 0 700 kilometers kilometers Magnitude The value in this column contains the earthquake magnitude, it is usually the Ms magnitude. The Ms magnitude is the surface-wave magnitude of the earthquake. The magnitude is a measure of seismic energy. The magnitude scale is logarithmic. An increase of one in magnitude represents a tenfold increase in the recorded wave amplitude. However, the energy release associated with an increase of one in magnitude is not tenfold, but about thirtyfold. For example, approximately 900 times more energy is released in an earthquake of magnitude 7 than in an earthquake of magnitude 5. Each increase in magnitude of one unit is equivalent to an increase of seismic energy of about 1.6 x 10,000,000,000,000 ergs. 0.0 9.9 Felt Report Parameters physicalMeasurement City Name The City where the felt report occurred. State The State or Province abbreviation where the felt report occurred. Felt Report Latitude Distance measured north or south from the equator. Distance north is positive, distance south is negative. 90.00000 -90.00000 decimal degrees decimal degrees Felt Report Longitude Longitude is measured from the Prime Meridian (which is the north/south line that runs through Greenwich, England), values measured east are positive and values measured west are negative. 180.00000 -180.00000 decimal degrees decimal degrees Epicentral Distance The distance from the earthquake source to the felt report location. 10000 0 kilometers kilometers Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) The Modified Mercalli Intensity (Int) is given in Roman Numerals (converted to numbers in the digital database). I. Not felt except by a very few under especially favorable circumstances. II. Felt only by a few persons at rest, especially on upper floors of buildings. Delicately suspended objects may swing. III. Felt quite noticeably indoors, especially on upper floors of buildings, but many people do not recognize it as an earthquake. Standing motor cars may rock slightly. Vibration like passing truck. Duration estimated. IV. During the day felt indoors by many, outdoors by few. At night some awakened. Dishes, windows, and doors disturbed; walls make creaking sound. Sensation like heavy truck striking building. Standing motorcars rock noticeably. V. Felt by nearly everyone; many awakened. Some dishes, windows, etc., broken; a few instances of cracked plaster; unstable objects overturned. Disturbance of trees, poles, and other tall objects sometimes noticed. Pendulum clocks may stop. VI. Felt by all; many frightened and run outdoors. Some heavy furniture moved; a few instances of fallen plaster or damaged chimneys. Damage slight. VII. Everybody runs outdoors. Damage negligible in buildings of good design and construction slight to moderate in well built ordinary structures; considerable in poorly built or badly designed structures. Some chimneys broken. Noticed by persons driving motor cars. VIII. Damage slight in specially designed structures; considerable in ordinary substantial buildings, with partial collapse; great in poorly built structures. Panel walls thrown out of frame structures. Fall of chimneys, factory stacks, columns, monuments, walls. Heavy furniture overturned. Sand and mud ejected in small amounts. Changes in well water. Persons driving motor cars disturbed. IX. Damage considerable in specially designed structures; well-designed frame structures thrown out of plumb; great in substantial buildings, with partial collapse. Buildings shifted off foundations. Ground cracked conspicuously. Underground pipes broken. X. Some well-built wooden structures destroyed; most masonry and frame structures destroyed with foundations; ground badly cracked. Rails bent. Landslides considerable from river banks and steep slopes. Shifted sand and mud. Water splashed over banks XI. Few, if any (masonry), structures remain standing. Bridges destroyed. Broad fissures in ground. Underground pipelines completely out of service. Earth slumps and land slips in soft ground. Rails bent greatly. XII. Damage total. Waves seen on ground surfaces. Lines of sight and level distorted. Objects thrown upward into the air. Unpublished or Group Intensity Definition not provided. U = Intensity (MM) assigned that was not listed in the source document. G = Intensity grouped I-III in the source document was reassigned intensity III. Country The Country where the felt report occurred. ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA CANADA MEXICO PANAMA PHILIPPINES USA USA TERRITORY Data Source This is a code referring to the source of one or more of the reported parameters (e.g., epicenter, city and intensity). References are listed below. B = Report by Bollinger and Stover, 1976. C = Quarterly Seismological Reports, 1925-27. H = Earthquake History of the United States. K = Report by Carnegie Institution, 1908, 1910. N = Report by Nuttli, 1973. Q = Abstracts of Earthquake Reports for the United States, 1933-70. S = Unpublished report by Nina Scott, 1965. W = Monthly Weather Service Seismological Reports, 1914-24. U = United States Earthquakes, 1928-85. Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information pointOfContact In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media. Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions. 300.0 https://doi.org/10.25921/wa4z-d240 HTTPS Web browser NCEI Dataset Landing Page Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. information https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazard/data/publications/eqint_tsqp.xlsx http United States Earthquake Intensity Database Direct file download link for the U.S. Earthquake Intensity Database, a collection of intensities for over 23,000 U.S. earthquakes. The digital database contains information regarding epicentral coordinates, magnitudes, focal depths, names and coordinates of reporting cities (or localities), reported intensities, and the distance from city (or locality) to epicenter. The database file is static and is no longer being updated. download https://doi.org/10.25921/wa4z-d240 HTTPS Web browser NCEI Dataset Landing Page Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. download dataset Although the history of the development of earthquake intensity scales is long and interesting, only a brief summary will be presented here. Poarid, an Italian, made the first known attempt to classify earthquakes by intensity in 1627; he used a scale of four levels of intensity to describe effects of earthquakes experienced at different towns. Although many additional attempts were made in the 18th and 19th centuries to develop comprehensive scales for measuring earthquake intensity, none was more widely used than that formulated in 1873 by M. S. de Rossi of Italy and F. A. Forel of Switzerland. But this scale also had severe limitations, and therefore was superseded in the early 1900s by Mercalli's revised intensity scale; it contained 12 levels of intensity. In 1931, a modified version of Mercalli's scale was published by H. O. Wood and Frank Neumann. Known as the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale of 1931, it has become the standard used by the United States engineering seismology community, which includes the National Geophysical Data Center and the U.S. Geological Survey. The NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information decommissioned the United States Earthquake Intensity Database, 1638-1985 on May 05, 2025 with no further updates. Upon termination, the underlying data will be available from https://doi.org/10.25921/wa4z-d240. Comments and questions may be sent to: ncei.info@noaa.gov 2025-05-05T00:00:00Z Earthquake intensity data is gathered. United States Geological Survey (USGS) originator dataset The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is the Federal agency responsible for collecting earthquake intensity data. The USGS carries out this responsibility using a questionnaire called "Earthquake Report," and also sends field investigators to the scene of destructive earthquakes to analyze the resulting damage. Different versions of the questionnaire have been used since the mid-1920s by several groups who were responsible for collecting intensity data. The present questionnaire contains pertinent questions about earthquake effects that enable a seismologist to evaluate the intensity of the earthquake in all parts of the shaken area; it also is designed specifically for computer processing. In the past, the USGS sent questionnaires immediately after each U.S. earthquake to postmasters, National Weather Service offices, military installations, and others, requesting that they report all effects of the earthquake in their area. If the earthquake was damaging, expert observers travelled to the field to investigate and photograph the damage incurred. This data-collection program was supplemented by newspaper accounts of earthquake effects, published scientific reports, and reports provided by seismology collaborators. After the completed earthquake questionnaires were returned to USGS, a seismologist analyzed each report and assigned intensities on the basis of the effects at each town; intensity (or isoseismal) maps were then constructed for earthquakes felt over large areas. Descriptions and maps of these events were published annually in the United States Earthquakes series, and a summary of the stronger earthquakes (MM intensity >= V) was published periodically in Earthquake History of the United States. The USGS now only canvasses selected earthquakes. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is the Federal agency responsible for collecting earthquake intensity data. The USGS carries out this responsibility using a questionnaire called "Earthquake Report," and also sends field investigators to the scene of destructive earthquakes to analyze the resulting damage. Different versions of the questionnaire have been used since the mid-1920s by several groups who were responsible for collecting intensity data. The present questionnaire contains pertinent questions about earthquake effects that enable a seismologist to evaluate the intensity of the earthquake in all parts of the shaken area; it also is designed specifically for computer processing. In the past, the USGS sent questionnaires immediately after each U.S. earthquake to postmasters, National Weather Service offices, military installations, and others, requesting that they report all effects of the earthquake in their area. If the earthquake was damaging, expert observers travelled to the field to investigate and photograph the damage incurred. This data-collection program was supplemented by newspaper accounts of earthquake effects, published scientific reports, and reports provided by seismology collaborators. After the completed earthquake questionnaires were returned to USGS, a seismologist analyzed each report and assigned intensities on the basis of the effects at each town; intensity (or isoseismal) maps were then constructed for earthquakes felt over large areas. Descriptions and maps of these events were published annually in the United States Earthquakes series, and a summary of the stronger earthquakes (MM intensity >= V) was published periodically in Earthquake History of the United States. The USGS now only canvasses selected earthquakes. repository NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information NOAA created the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) by merging NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), and National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), including the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC), per the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113-235. NCEI launched publicly on April 22, 2015. 2015-04-22T00:00:00 unknown This record was automatically modified on 2015-10-01 to include references to NCEI where applicable. Updated 2022-06-14 to replace broken link to IDB with HTML web page. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information Metadata Specialist editor