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 available to the USGS. For large earthquakes, the USGS releases an initial estimate of the earthquake magnitude and location within about 20 minutes for earthquakes outside the United States. Those estimates are made using data transmitted in real time from the closest seismic stations. Some of the seismic waves used in magnitude analysis can take more than an hour to propagate around the earth and reach stations farther from the epicenter. There is no physical way to include these measurements in the initial magnitude release because the energy used in the analysis has not yet arrived at all seismic stations. Additionally, not all seismic data are delivered to the USGS in real time. Some data from contributing networks are delayed by several minutes or more, while some may arrive days after the event. As additional data become available and are processed, the earthquake magnitude and location are refined and updated.
After the initial magnitude is released, there are generally two processing points at which the magnitude of a significant earthquake might be updated. The first generally comes within a few hours of the earthquake, when the majority of the real-time data has arrived at seismic stations around the earth and more sophisticated, time-intensive, processing has been completed. The second comes within days to weeks after the event when the event is reanalyzed for inclusion in an archival earthquake catalog. At this point, the USGS has received most available seismograms as well as magnitude estimates from other contributing national and international agencies. These data are assessed by the USGS and the catalog magnitude is assigned following the USGS Earthquake Magnitude Policy.
In some regions (including California, Utah, Alaska, and the Pacific Northwest), updates are also possible in the minutes following an earthquake, especially when the initial, rapid magnitude is released without human review. Magnitude updates are also sometimes made to historic earthquakes already in archival catalogs when new methods to calculate magnitude are developed and applied.
Related Content
What is UTC, and why do you report earthquakes in UTC?
Why do so many earthquakes occur at a depth of 10km?
How quickly is earthquake information posted to the USGS website and sent out via the Earthquake Notification Service (ENS) and other feeds?
Where can I see current or past seismograms?
Why do USGS earthquake magnitudes differ from those published by other agencies?
Why do some earthquakes disappear from the map/list?
Why isn't the fault on which the earthquake occurred or the distance to the nearest fault provided?
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?
Did I feel an earthquake? Can I report feeling an earthquake?
Why is the earthquake that was reported/recorded by network X, or that I felt, not on the Latest Earthquakes map/list?
Where can I find current earthquake lists and maps for the world or for a specific area?
Updated USGS Earthquake Monitoring Strategy Released
The USGS Earthquake Hazards Program recently released a new strategic plan for earthquake monitoring entitled the “Advanced National Seismic System – Current Status, Development Opportunities, Priorities, 2017-2027.”
A 100-year-long History of Earthquakes and Seismic Monitoring in Hawaii
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory’s 1912–2012 Centennial—100 Years of Tracking Eruptions and Earthquakes
HAWAI‘I ISLAND, Hawaii —The history of earthquakes and seismic monitoring in Hawai‘i during the past century will be the topic of a presentation at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo on Thursday, January 26, at 7:00 p.m.
Millions Awarded for Earthquake Monitoring in the United States
More than $7 million in cooperative agreements will be awarded for earthquake monitoring by the U.S Geological Survey in 2010. This funding will contribute to the development and operation of the USGS Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS).
Recovery Act Funds Will Upgrade Earthquake Monitoring
USGS will Grant Universities $5 Million to Beef Up Public Safety Grants totaling $5 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are being awarded to 13 universities nationwide to upgrade critical earthquake monitoring networks and increase public safety.
Earthquake Catalog Map Results Example
Example of results returned when searching the USGS Earthquake Catalog. The ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) contains earthquake source parameters (e.g. hypocenters, magnitudes, phase picks and amplitudes) and other products (e.g. moment tensor solutions, macroseismic information, tectonic summaries, maps) produced by contributing seismic
...Earthquakes Greater Than or Equal to Magnitude 2.7 Since 1980
USGS charts showing the number of earthquakes greater than or equal to magnitude 2.7 since 1980 in the five focus areas identified as having especially high ground-shaking hazard in the central and eastern U.S. in 2017.
Magnitude 7.9 Earthquake off Papua New Guinea
USGS map of the magnitude 7.9 earthquake off Papua New Guinea.
Magnitude 6.6 Earthquake in Italy
USGS map of the magnitude 6.6 earthquake in Italy.
Installing Antenna and Solar Panel for Seismic Station
With funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory recently upgraded its seismic monitoring network. Here, HVO staff, assisted by an HVO volunteer, installs the solar panel and antenna for one of the upgraded seismic stations on Kīlauea.
Scenario Earthquake Map
Interactive map showing earthquake scenario data
Eastern Earthquakes
This map shows earthquakes above magnitude 4.0 in the eastern United States since 1973, the first year with a complete catalog. There are 184 earthquakes recorded. An earthquake of magnitude 4.0 or greater can cause minor or more significant damage. The circle sizes correspond to earthquake magnitude, ranging from 4.0 to 5.9 (the largest was in the Gulf of Mexico).