About PlainQuake
PlainQuake is a free, public tool that makes global earthquake data easy to explore and understand. We present data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program in a format designed for quick lookup and comparison.
Data Sources
- Global M4+ Catalog (2005-2025): All earthquakes magnitude 4.0 and above recorded worldwide by USGS. Over 300,000 events.
- Significant Earthquake Catalog (1900-present): Major earthquakes (M6.0+) with historical data going back over a century. Approximately 14,000 events.
What We Show
- By Year: Annual earthquake counts, magnitude breakdowns, and peak events from 2005 to 2025.
- By Country: Earthquake activity for 214 countries with total counts, significant events, and maximum magnitudes.
- US States: State-level seismic data for 38 states and territories with recorded M4+ activity.
- Significant Events: Browsable catalog of all M6+ earthquakes with magnitude, depth, and location details.
Key Terms
- Magnitude: A measure of earthquake size. Each whole number increase represents roughly 31.6 times more energy released.
- Depth: Distance below the Earth's surface where the earthquake originates, measured in kilometers.
- Significant Earthquake: An earthquake of magnitude 6.0 or greater, capable of causing serious damage near the epicenter.
Limitations
- Detection capability varies by region. Remote oceanic areas may have incomplete records for smaller earthquakes.
- Historical data (pre-1960) has larger magnitude uncertainties than modern instrumental data.
- Country attribution is based on the USGS place description and may not perfectly match political boundaries.
Disclaimer
PlainQuake is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the U.S. Geological Survey or any government agency. This site is for informational purposes only. Data is provided "as is" without warranty. Do not use this site as a substitute for official earthquake warnings or emergency information.
Contact
Questions or feedback? Reach out at [email protected].