Magnitude estimates for a given earthquake can vary between reporting agencies due to differences in methodology, data availability, and inherent uncertainties in seismic data. Individual agencies use magnitude estimation procedures designed to meet the agency's specific needs and monitoring capabilities. Even for well-recorded events, differences in magnitude of 0.2 or 0.3 units are common and representative of the inherent uncertainty of the magnitude estimation process.
Obtaining an accurate measure of an earthquake's size is difficult. Earthquakes are complex processes that occur below the Earth’s surface away from direct observation and measurement. Determining a single number to represent an earthquake’s size has inherent uncertainties due to our assumptions about the material in which they occur and our inability to fully reconstruct the hidden process.
Multiple methods are used to estimate magnitude. Fundamentally different calculation methods are specified by magnitude type. The USGS National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) routinely calculates as many as a dozen different magnitude types. Multiple magnitude types are necessary because no single method is capable of accurately estimating the size of all earthquakes. Some magnitude types are calculated to provide a consistent comparison to past earthquakes, for which modern techniques cannot be applied. Attempts have been made to calibrate these magnitudes to the original Richter Scale, but since different techniques often measure different physical processes there can be large discrepancies between different magnitude types calculated for the same earthquake. These differences can be as large as 0.5 even in magnitude ranges where both techniques are considered valid. Some magnitudes types are fast to calculate and can be completely automated, while others require manual processing by a trained seismologist. Changes in the preferred USGS magnitude in the minutes and hours following significant earthquakes are often a result of a change in magnitude type as well as the inclusion of more data. This iterative procedure addresses the desire for rapid information and allows for timely improvement to derived USGS products such as ShakeMap and PAGER.
Even for a given magnitude type, there can be differences in magnitude estimates from different agencies. These differences generally arise due to the use of different Earth models, data availability and data processing. The USGS National Earthquake Information Center reports on earthquakes worldwide. We strive for global consistency in the methods used for calculating earthquake parameters. This approach requires a systematic process as well as a more generic model of Earth's physical properties. A seismic network that is focused on a specific region will often tune their underlying models to their area of interest and monitoring history.
To obtain the most consistent and meaningful information from magnitude estimates, researchers and policy makers should consider and specify both the magnitude type and source of that information. For example, local networks are generally the best source for consistent quality information in that region whereas global monitoring agencies such as the USGS National Earthquake Information Center can provide valuable information when comparing earthquakes across the globe.
Learn More:
Related Content
Where can I find current earthquake lists and maps for the world or for a specific area?
The Earthquake Hazards Program Latest Earthquakes Map displays earthquakes in near-realtime and up to the past 30 days of earthquakes. The interface includes three panels: a list of earthquakes, a map, and a settings/options panel. You can pan and zoom the map to view specific areas. Click on an event on the list or map for additional information and a link to the event page with all the details...
Did I feel an earthquake? Can I report feeling an earthquake?
Report an earthquake experience or related observation through the Did You Feel It? citizen science webpage.The best way to do this is to click on the earthquake that you think you felt on one of the lists on the Earthquakes webpage, and then select the "Tell Us!" link.If you don't see the earthquake you think you felt, use the green "Report an Unknown Event" button on our Did You Feel It? page...
Why is the earthquake that was reported/recorded by network X, or that I felt, not on the Latest Earthquakes map/list?
The USGS Latest Earthquakes map and lists show events that have been located by the USGS and contributing agencies within the last 30 days. They should NOT be considered complete lists of all events in the U.S. and adjacent areas and especially should NOT be considered complete lists of all magnitude 4.5 and greater events that occur around the globe. In most cases, we locate and report an...
Why do some earthquakes disappear from the map/list?
The USGS and networks contributing to the Advance National Seismic System (ANSS) take great effort to provide accurate and timely earthquake information. Occasionally our systems produce erroneous information that is released to the public via our web pages or Earthquake Notification System. These mistakes are generally promptly identified by seismologists, removed from our web pages, and “delete”...
Why isn't the fault on which the earthquake occurred or the distance to the nearest fault provided?
Seismologists evaluate the hypocenter location and the focal mechanism of an earthquake to decide if the earthquake occurs on a named fault. Research shows that many earthquakes occur on small, un-named faults located near well-known faults. For example, most of the aftershocks of the 1989 M6.9 Loma Prieta earthquake occurred on small, subsidiary faults within a few hundred meters of the mainshock...
Can I get on a list to receive an email message when there is an earthquake? How do I sign up for earthquake notifications? Are there any Feeds I can subscribe to?
Yes, please go to the USGS Earthquake Notification Services (ENS) to sign up for free emails or text messages to your phone. Use the default settings or customize ENS to fit your needs. Also check out the many different Earthquake Feeds.
Why/When does the USGS update the magnitude of an earthquake?
The USGS often updates an earthquake's magnitude in the hours and sometimes days following the event. Updates occur as more data become available for analysis and more time-intensive analysis is performed. Additional updates are possible as part of the standard procedure of assembling a final earthquake catalog. There are physical and operational constraints on how quickly seismic data are...
Why do so many earthquakes occur at a depth of 10km?
Ten kilometers is a "fixed depth". Sometimes data are too poor to compute a reliable depth for an earthquake. In such cases, the depth is assigned to be 10 km. Why that number? In many areas around the world, reliable depths tend to average 10 km or close to it. For example, if we made a histogram of the reliable depths in such an area, we'd expect to see a peak around 10 km. So if we don't know...
How quickly is earthquake information posted to the USGS website and sent out via the Earthquake Notification Service (ENS) and other feeds?
USGS earthquake information mechanisms are all triggered by the same system, so they all receive the information at the same time. The time it takes for the system to receive the information primarily depends on the size and location of the earthquake:An earthquake in California is processed and posted to the system in 2.5 minutes (on average). This is because our seismic network is very extensive...
Where can I see current or past seismograms?
The USGS Earthquake Hazards Program has helicorders (seismogram displays) available for several areas in the United States and the World. Our research partner IRIS (Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology) has two applications, the Station Monitor and the Global Seismogram Viewer, for viewing seismograms. IRIS also supplies software that allows users to collect and view seismic data from...
What is UTC, and why do you report earthquakes in UTC?
UTC stands for Coordinated Universal Time, and for this purpose is the same as GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). Since the USGS and other seismic network agencies record earthquakes around the globe in all the various time zones, using a single standard time reference is best for record-keeping and exchange of data. The individual event pages with details about each earthquake use UTC for the reference...
Related Content
- FAQ
Where can I find current earthquake lists and maps for the world or for a specific area?
The Earthquake Hazards Program Latest Earthquakes Map displays earthquakes in near-realtime and up to the past 30 days of earthquakes. The interface includes three panels: a list of earthquakes, a map, and a settings/options panel. You can pan and zoom the map to view specific areas. Click on an event on the list or map for additional information and a link to the event page with all the details...
Did I feel an earthquake? Can I report feeling an earthquake?
Report an earthquake experience or related observation through the Did You Feel It? citizen science webpage.The best way to do this is to click on the earthquake that you think you felt on one of the lists on the Earthquakes webpage, and then select the "Tell Us!" link.If you don't see the earthquake you think you felt, use the green "Report an Unknown Event" button on our Did You Feel It? page...
Why is the earthquake that was reported/recorded by network X, or that I felt, not on the Latest Earthquakes map/list?
The USGS Latest Earthquakes map and lists show events that have been located by the USGS and contributing agencies within the last 30 days. They should NOT be considered complete lists of all events in the U.S. and adjacent areas and especially should NOT be considered complete lists of all magnitude 4.5 and greater events that occur around the globe. In most cases, we locate and report an...
Why do some earthquakes disappear from the map/list?
The USGS and networks contributing to the Advance National Seismic System (ANSS) take great effort to provide accurate and timely earthquake information. Occasionally our systems produce erroneous information that is released to the public via our web pages or Earthquake Notification System. These mistakes are generally promptly identified by seismologists, removed from our web pages, and “delete”...
Why isn't the fault on which the earthquake occurred or the distance to the nearest fault provided?
Seismologists evaluate the hypocenter location and the focal mechanism of an earthquake to decide if the earthquake occurs on a named fault. Research shows that many earthquakes occur on small, un-named faults located near well-known faults. For example, most of the aftershocks of the 1989 M6.9 Loma Prieta earthquake occurred on small, subsidiary faults within a few hundred meters of the mainshock...
Can I get on a list to receive an email message when there is an earthquake? How do I sign up for earthquake notifications? Are there any Feeds I can subscribe to?
Yes, please go to the USGS Earthquake Notification Services (ENS) to sign up for free emails or text messages to your phone. Use the default settings or customize ENS to fit your needs. Also check out the many different Earthquake Feeds.
Why/When does the USGS update the magnitude of an earthquake?
The USGS often updates an earthquake's magnitude in the hours and sometimes days following the event. Updates occur as more data become available for analysis and more time-intensive analysis is performed. Additional updates are possible as part of the standard procedure of assembling a final earthquake catalog. There are physical and operational constraints on how quickly seismic data are...
Why do so many earthquakes occur at a depth of 10km?
Ten kilometers is a "fixed depth". Sometimes data are too poor to compute a reliable depth for an earthquake. In such cases, the depth is assigned to be 10 km. Why that number? In many areas around the world, reliable depths tend to average 10 km or close to it. For example, if we made a histogram of the reliable depths in such an area, we'd expect to see a peak around 10 km. So if we don't know...
How quickly is earthquake information posted to the USGS website and sent out via the Earthquake Notification Service (ENS) and other feeds?
USGS earthquake information mechanisms are all triggered by the same system, so they all receive the information at the same time. The time it takes for the system to receive the information primarily depends on the size and location of the earthquake:An earthquake in California is processed and posted to the system in 2.5 minutes (on average). This is because our seismic network is very extensive...
Where can I see current or past seismograms?
The USGS Earthquake Hazards Program has helicorders (seismogram displays) available for several areas in the United States and the World. Our research partner IRIS (Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology) has two applications, the Station Monitor and the Global Seismogram Viewer, for viewing seismograms. IRIS also supplies software that allows users to collect and view seismic data from...
What is UTC, and why do you report earthquakes in UTC?
UTC stands for Coordinated Universal Time, and for this purpose is the same as GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). Since the USGS and other seismic network agencies record earthquakes around the globe in all the various time zones, using a single standard time reference is best for record-keeping and exchange of data. The individual event pages with details about each earthquake use UTC for the reference...
- Multimedia
- Publications
- News