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

Global plot of significant earthquakes

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.

Dataset Citation

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]

Dataset Identifiers

doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K

ISO 19115-2 Metadata

gov.noaa.ngdc.mgg.hazards:G012153

XML


Search Data	NCEI/WDS Global Significant Earthquake Database (search) The database contains information for each earthquake such as the date, time, location, focal depth, magnitude, intensity, and socio-economic data including the total number of fatalities, injuries, houses damaged, and houses destroyed and $ dollar damage estimates if available. 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. Natural Hazards Map Viewer - Significant Earthquakes Layer (search) Tsunami source and runup locations, significant earthquake epicenters, significant volcanic eruption locations.
Download Data	NCEI/WDS Global Significant Earthquake Database (download) The database contains information for each earthquake such as the date, time, location, focal depth, magnitude, intensity, and socio-economic data including the total number of fatalities, injuries, houses damaged, and houses destroyed and $ dollar damage estimates if available. 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.
Distribution Formats	TSV
Distributor	Hazards Data Manager NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information haz.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact	Nicolas Arcos DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce (303) 497-3158 haz.info@noaa.gov


Time Period	-2150 to Present
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates	West:-179 East:180 South:-63 North:71
Spatial Coverage Map


General Documentation	NGDC Natural Hazards Website Data, products and services for natural hazards.
Associated Resources	NCEI/WDS Global Historical Tsunami Database, 2100 BC to Present NCEI/WDS Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database, 4360 BC to Present Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale of 1931


Publication Dates	publication: 1972-01-01
Data Presentation Form	mapDigital Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status	Under development - data is currently in the process of being created
Data Update Frequency	As needed
Purpose	These data are necessary for earthquake hazard assessments and mitigation efforts.


Dataset Citation	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]
Originators	National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS)
Points of Contact	Nicolas Arcos DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Publishers	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information


Theme keywords	Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords Earth Science > Interior & Crust Earth Science > Solid Earth > Seismology > Earthquake Occurrences INFOTERRA Keyword Thesaurus INFOTERRA > Disasters > Catastrophic phenomena > Earthquakes INFOTERRA > Lithosphere > Seismic activity > Seismic activity INFOTERRA > Lithosphere > Seismic monitoring > Seismic monitoring INFOTERRA > Disasters > Catastrophic phenomena > Tsunami Uncontrolled Keywords Epicenter Hypocenter Seismology
Data Center keywords	Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords 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
Place keywords	Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords Global
Project keywords	Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Project Keywords ICSU-WDS > International Council for Science - World Data System


Use Constraints	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.
Access Constraints	Access to this dataset is unrestricted.
Other 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]
Fees	Free online

Lineage information for:dataset
Lineage Statement	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.
Processor	DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Source Datasets	Catalog of Significant Earthquakes 2000 B.C. - 1979, Including Quantitative Casualties and Damage Description of Source: The Significant Earthquake database originated from the Significant Earthquake Catalog (Ganse, Robert A., John B. Nelson, 1981).

Lineage information for:repository
Processing Steps	2015-04-22T00:00:00 -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.

Last Modified: 2024-09-10

For questions about the information on this page, please email:haz.info@noaa.gov