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Browse images and videos related to earthquakes and earthquake hazards.

Images

2025 USGS National Seismic Hazard Model for Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Chance of Damaging Shaking Map
2025 USGS National Seismic Hazard Model for Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Chance of Damaging Shaking Map
2025 USGS National Seismic Hazard Model for Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Chance of Damaging Shaking Map
2025 USGS National Seismic Hazard Model for Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Chance of Damaging Shaking Map

2025 USGS National Seismic Hazard Model for Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Chance of Damaging Shaking Map; chance of slight-or-greater damaging earthquake shaking in 100 years (equivalent to Modified Mercalli Intensity VI).

10 Largest Earthquakes Ever Recorded
10 Largest Earthquakes Ever Recorded (Updated 2025)
10 Largest Earthquakes Ever Recorded (Updated 2025)
10 Largest Earthquakes Ever Recorded (Updated 2025)

10 Largest Earthquakes Ever Recorded (Updated 2025)

#10. MAGNITUDE 8.6 (1950). Arunachal Pradesh, India - Referred to as the Assam-Tibet earthquake, this quake produced intense shaking, triggered sandblows, ground cracks, and large landslides across the region. All told, 780 people died.

10 Largest Earthquakes Ever Recorded (Updated 2025)

#10. MAGNITUDE 8.6 (1950). Arunachal Pradesh, India - Referred to as the Assam-Tibet earthquake, this quake produced intense shaking, triggered sandblows, ground cracks, and large landslides across the region. All told, 780 people died.

A group assembling a seismometer at the Physical Sciences Laboratory.
IceCube 2025-08-07TW 1279
IceCube 2025-08-07TW 1279
IceCube 2025-08-07TW 1279

Nicholas Pelyk, Jason Patton, Rob Anthony, and Skyler Grulke slide a part into the tube while assembling a seismometer at the Physical Sciences Laboratory in Stoughton, Wisconsin on Aug. 7, 2025. (Photo by Taylor Wolfram / UW–Madison)

Nicholas Pelyk, Jason Patton, Rob Anthony, and Skyler Grulke slide a part into the tube while assembling a seismometer at the Physical Sciences Laboratory in Stoughton, Wisconsin on Aug. 7, 2025. (Photo by Taylor Wolfram / UW–Madison)

USGS Rob Anthony sets up equipment in a freezer to test a Seismometer.
Testing the Deep Ice Seismometer
Testing the Deep Ice Seismometer
Testing the Deep Ice Seismometer

USGS Rob Anthony sets up equipment in a freezer to test a Seismometer Interface Module at the Physical Sciences Laboratory in Stoughton, Wisconsin on Aug. 7, 2025. (Photo by Taylor Wolfram / UW–Madison)

USGS Rob Anthony sets up equipment in a freezer to test a Seismometer Interface Module at the Physical Sciences Laboratory in Stoughton, Wisconsin on Aug. 7, 2025. (Photo by Taylor Wolfram / UW–Madison)

Assembling a seismometer at the Physical Sciences Laboratory in Stoughton.
IceCube 2025-08-07TW 0407
IceCube 2025-08-07TW 0407
IceCube 2025-08-07TW 0407

Jason Patton, Rob Anthony (USGS), and Skyler Grulke assemble a seismometer at the Physical Sciences Laboratory in Stoughton, Wisconsin on Aug. 7, 2025. (Photo by Taylor Wolfram / UW–Madison)

Jason Patton, Rob Anthony (USGS), and Skyler Grulke assemble a seismometer at the Physical Sciences Laboratory in Stoughton, Wisconsin on Aug. 7, 2025. (Photo by Taylor Wolfram / UW–Madison)

A photo of the seismometer being assembled.
IceCube 2025-08-07TW 0578
IceCube 2025-08-07TW 0578
IceCube 2025-08-07TW 0578

USGS Rob Anthony puts in the Seismometer Interface Module while assembling a seismometer at the Physical Sciences Laboratory in Stoughton, Wisconsin on Aug. 7, 2025. (Photo by Taylor Wolfram / UW–Madison)

USGS Rob Anthony puts in the Seismometer Interface Module while assembling a seismometer at the Physical Sciences Laboratory in Stoughton, Wisconsin on Aug. 7, 2025. (Photo by Taylor Wolfram / UW–Madison)

Videos

Deep Ice Seismometer Thumbnail Deep Ice Seismometer Thumbnail
World's deepest seismometer braces the South Pole!
World's deepest seismometer braces the South Pole!

Get ready to journey to the bottom of the world! The Deep Ice Seismometer is a groundbreaking new tool that will revolutionize how we monitor earthquakes across the globe. Developed through a powerful collaboration between the U.S.

Get ready to journey to the bottom of the world! The Deep Ice Seismometer is a groundbreaking new tool that will revolutionize how we monitor earthquakes across the globe. Developed through a powerful collaboration between the U.S.

seismic waves emanating from M8.8 Russia quake seismic waves emanating from M8.8 Russia quake
M 8.8 Kamchatka Peninsula Earthquake ShakeMovie
M 8.8 Kamchatka Peninsula Earthquake ShakeMovie

Shakemovie animation showing seismic waves emanating from the magnitude 8.8 Kamchatka Peninsula earthquake.

Shake Movie for M5.2 Julian earthquake Thumbnail Shake Movie for M5.2 Julian earthquake Thumbnail
Shake Movie for M5.2 Julian earthquake
Shake Movie for M5.2 Julian earthquake

Computer simulation of shaking during the April 14, 2025 M5.2 Julian, CA earthquake. As the waves propagate away from the epicenter they interact with different geologic materials, which can slow down and amplify the shaking.

Computer simulation of shaking during the April 14, 2025 M5.2 Julian, CA earthquake. As the waves propagate away from the epicenter they interact with different geologic materials, which can slow down and amplify the shaking.

man in front of a graphic for PAGER man in front of a graphic for PAGER
USGS PAGER during the Magnitude 7.7 2025 Mandalay, Burma (Myanmar) Earthquake
USGS PAGER during the Magnitude 7.7 2025 Mandalay, Burma (Myanmar) Earthquake

Dr. William Yeck is a seismologist with the USGS National Earthquake Information Center. He explains the importance of PAGER during the magnitude 7.7 2025 Mandalay, Burma (Myanmar) Earthquake.

cartoon image of ammonia (NH3) and ammonium (NH4+) cartoon image of ammonia (NH3) and ammonium (NH4+)
Ammonia or Ammonium? What’s the difference?
Ammonia or Ammonium? What’s the difference?

Ammonia or ammonium? What’s the difference? In water, ammonia (NH3) and ammonium (NH4+) exist together in an equilibrium that depends on pH and temperature. As the temperature or pH rise, ammonia (NH3) becomes more abundant. This is important because ammonia is more toxic than ammonium.

Ammonia or ammonium? What’s the difference? In water, ammonia (NH3) and ammonium (NH4+) exist together in an equilibrium that depends on pH and temperature. As the temperature or pH rise, ammonia (NH3) becomes more abundant. This is important because ammonia is more toxic than ammonium.

Explained: The December 5th, 2024 Earthquake

USGS Scientist, Bob deGroot, briefly explains what happened during the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that occurred offshore of Mendocino, CA, on December 5, 2024.

The event occurred in an area called the Triple Junction, where the Pacific, Juan de Fuca, and North American tectonic plates meet.

USGS Scientist, Bob deGroot, briefly explains what happened during the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that occurred offshore of Mendocino, CA, on December 5, 2024.

The event occurred in an area called the Triple Junction, where the Pacific, Juan de Fuca, and North American tectonic plates meet.

Audio

Landers rupture
Landers rupture
Landers rupture
Landers Rupture — Sue on what it felt like
Landers Rupture — Sue on what it felt like
Landers rupture
Landers rupture
Landers rupture
Landers Rupture — Sue on what it felt like

USGS seismologist Susan Hough recalls what the 1992 Landers earthquake felt like from Pasadena, CA. 

Landers rupture
Landers rupture
Landers rupture
Landers Rupture — Scott on what it looked like
Landers Rupture — Scott on what it looked like
Landers rupture
Landers rupture
Landers rupture
Landers Rupture — Scott on what it looked like

USGS field technician Scott Lydeen recalls what the aftermath of the 1992 Landers earthquake looked like.

Landers rupture
Landers rupture
Landers rupture
Landers Rupture — Sue on how monitoring networks evolved
Landers Rupture — Sue on how monitoring networks evolved
Landers rupture
Landers rupture
Landers rupture
Landers Rupture — Sue on how monitoring networks evolved

USGS seismologist Susan Hough described the Southern California Seismic Network and how it was used for the 1992 Landers earthquake.

Landers rupture
Landers rupture
Landers rupture
Landers Rupture — Andy on using satellite data
Landers Rupture — Andy on using satellite data
Landers rupture
Landers rupture
Landers rupture
Landers Rupture — Andy on using satellite data

USGS seismologist Andrew Michael talks about the remote location of the 1992 Landers earthquake and how researchers were able to use satellite data to better see the quake’s impacts.

USGS seismologist Andrew Michael talks about the remote location of the 1992 Landers earthquake and how researchers were able to use satellite data to better see the quake’s impacts.

Landers rupture
Landers rupture
Landers rupture
Landers Rupture — Joan on little skull mountain
Landers Rupture — Joan on little skull mountain
Landers rupture
Landers rupture
Landers rupture
Landers Rupture — Joan on little skull mountain

USGS seismologist Joan Gomberg recalls the earthquake on Little Skull Mountain related to the 1992 Landers earthquake.

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