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

browse graphicGlobal 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.
  • 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]
gov.noaa.ngdc.mgg.hazards:G012153
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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
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