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   Disaster Relief > Earthquakes > Measuring Magnitude5/14/2008 11:07:59 AM   

Measuring Magnitude


Description

When scientists refer to a "great" earthquake, they do not mean the earthquake was fabulous, they mean it was huge,  Informally, earthquakes are classified according to their size.

Magnitude Desc.
Under 5 small
5 - 6 moderate
6 - 7 large
7 - 8 major
7.8 or above great

Magnitude

Date

Location Length in Kilometers

Duration seconds

7.8 January 8, 1857 Fort Tejon 360 130
7.7 April 18, 1906 San Francisco 400 110
7.5 July 21, 1952 Kern County 75 27
7.3 June 28, 1992 Landers 70 24
7.0 October 17, 1989 Loma Prieta 40 7
6.9 May 18, 1940 Imperial Valley 50 15
6.7 January 17, 1994 Northridge 14 7
6.6 November 24, 1987 Superstition Hills 23 16
6.5 April 9, 1968 Borrego Mountain 25 6
6.4 October 15, 1979 Imperial Valley 30 13
6.4 March 10, 1933 Long Beach 15 5
6.1 April 22, 1992 Joshua Tree 15 5
5.9 July 8, 1986 North Palm Springs 20 4
5.9 October 1, 1987 Whittier Narrows 6 3
5.8 June 28, 1991 Sierra Madre 5 2

  • These are the fastest-slipping faults, moving at a rate of at least 4 millimeters per year.  The Newport-Inglewood fault, although famous, moves less than 0.5 millimeter per year, slower than many others in Southern California.
  • *550 kilometers of the San Andreas fault are in Southern California, south of Parkfield.
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