gov.noaa.ngdc.mgg.hazards:G01142
eng; USA
utf8
dataset
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Hazards Data Manager
haz.info@noaa.gov
pointOfContact
2022-06-14
ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata - Part 2: Extensions for Imagery and Gridded Data
ISO 19115-2:2009(E)
United States Earthquake Intensity Database, 1638-1985
1972-01-01
publication
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
publisher
Nicolas Arcos
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
(303) 497-3158
(303) 497-6513
325 Broadway, Mail Code E/NE42
Boulder
CO
80305-3328
USA
haz.info@noaa.gov
pointOfContact
United States Geological Survey > Earthquakes Hazards Program
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 905
Reston
Virginia
20192
USA
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/
http
United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquakes Hazards Program
The USGS Earthquake Hazards Program is part of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), established by Congress in 1977. We monitor and report earthquakes, assess earthquake impacts and hazards, and research the causes and effects of earthquakes.
information
originator
tableDigital
The United States Earthquake Intensity Database is a collection of damage and felt reports for over 23,000 U.S. earthquakes from 1638-1985. The majority of intensities are for U.S. cities, but there are also a few earthquakes and intensities for Panama (1925-1975), the Philippines (1926-1937), and Mexico (1887-1981). The data were compiled from various publications, newspaper reports, and special catalogs. The annual serial "United States Earthquakes," is the principal data source and provides 90 percent of the observations. Most records in the file contain the date and time of occurrence and location of the earthquake, magnitude, focal depth, two-digit state code, name and coordinates of observing city or town, the observed intensity at each town, and the distance from city (or locality) to epicenter. The file consists of more than 150,000 earthquake intensity observations. The data file serves as an important information source for the preparation of intensity histories that are useful for environmental and hazard impact statements. The file is static and is no longer being updated.
Environmental and hazard impact studies, Research
United States Geological Survey (USGS), United States Earthquakes, published annually by: Coast and Geodetic Survey from 1928-68; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from 1969-72; NOAA/U.S. Geological Survey from 1973-80; and U.S. Geological Survey from 1981-1986.
completed
Nicolas Arcos
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
(303) 497-3158
(303) 497-6513
325 Broadway, Mail Code E/NE42
Boulder
CO
80305-3328
USA
haz.info@noaa.gov
pointOfContact
notPlanned
There are no plans to update the data in this collection.
https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazard/img/usaint.jpg
Map of earthquake intensity locations.
jpg
Earth Science > Solid Earth > Seismology > Earthquake Occurrences
Earth Science > Solid Earth > Seismology > Earthquake Dynamics
Earth Science > Solid Earth > Tectonics > Continental Tectonics
theme
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
2020-01-09
publication
9.1
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Earth Science Data and Information System
https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/learn/find-data/idn/gcmd-keywords
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Keywords
The information provided on this page seeks to define how the GCMD Keywords are structured, used and accessed. It also provides information on how users can participate in the further development of the keywords.
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custodian
INFOTERRA > Disasters > Catastrophic phenomena > Earthquakes
INFOTERRA > Lithosphere > Seismic activity > Seismic activity
INFOTERRA > Lithosphere > Seismic monitoring > Seismic monitoring
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INFOTERRA Keyword Thesaurus
Epicenter
Hypocenter
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Uncontrolled Keywords
Seismographs
Seismometers
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2020-01-09
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Global
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DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NGDC > National Geophysical Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
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Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Keywords
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custodian
Produced by the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Not subject to copyright protection within the United States.
otherRestrictions
Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale of 1931
1931-12-01
publication
Wood, Harry O.
author
Neumann, Frank
author
Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America
21(4)
pp. 277-283
crossReference
sciencePaper
eng; USA
geoscientificInformation
-180.000000
180.000000
4.000000
69.000000
1638-06-11
1985-12-31
Event Date
physicalMeasurement
Earthquake Parameters
physicalMeasurement
Latitude
Distance measured north or south from the equator. Distance north is positive, distance south is negative.
90.00000
-90.00000
decimal degrees
decimal degrees
Longitude
Longitude is measured from the Prime Meridian (which is the north/south line that runs through Greenwich, England), values measured east are positive and values measured west are negative.
180.00000
-180.00000
decimal degrees
decimal degrees
Focal Depth
The depth of the earthquake is given in kilometers, positive downward.
0
700
kilometers
kilometers
Magnitude
The value in this column contains the earthquake magnitude, it is usually the Ms magnitude.
The Ms magnitude is the surface-wave magnitude of the earthquake.
The magnitude is a measure of seismic energy. The magnitude scale is logarithmic. An increase of one in magnitude represents a tenfold increase in the recorded wave amplitude. However, the energy release associated with an increase of one in magnitude is not tenfold, but about thirtyfold. For example, approximately 900 times more energy is released in an earthquake of magnitude 7 than in an earthquake of magnitude 5. Each increase in magnitude of one unit is equivalent to an increase of seismic energy of about 1.6 x 10,000,000,000,000 ergs.
0.0
9.9
Felt Report Parameters
physicalMeasurement
City Name
The City where the felt report occurred.
State
The State or Province abbreviation where the felt report occurred.
Felt Report Latitude
Distance measured north or south from the equator. Distance north is positive, distance south is negative.
90.00000
-90.00000
decimal degrees
decimal degrees
Felt Report Longitude
Longitude is measured from the Prime Meridian (which is the north/south line that runs through Greenwich, England), values measured east are positive and values measured west are negative.
180.00000
-180.00000
decimal degrees
decimal degrees
Epicentral Distance
The distance from the earthquake source to the felt report location.
10000
0
kilometers
kilometers
Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI)
The Modified Mercalli Intensity (Int) is given in Roman Numerals (converted to numbers in the digital database).
I. Not felt except by a very few under especially favorable circumstances.
II. Felt only by a few persons at rest, especially on upper floors of buildings. Delicately suspended objects may swing.
III. Felt quite noticeably indoors, especially on upper floors of buildings, but many people do not recognize it as an earthquake. Standing motor cars may rock slightly. Vibration like passing truck. Duration estimated.
IV. During the day felt indoors by many, outdoors by few. At night some awakened. Dishes, windows, and doors disturbed; walls make creaking sound. Sensation like heavy truck striking building. Standing motorcars rock noticeably.
V. Felt by nearly everyone; many awakened. Some dishes, windows, etc., broken; a few instances of cracked plaster; unstable objects overturned. Disturbance of trees, poles, and other tall objects sometimes noticed. Pendulum clocks may stop.
VI. Felt by all; many frightened and run outdoors. Some heavy furniture moved; a few instances of fallen plaster or damaged chimneys. Damage slight.
VII. Everybody runs outdoors. Damage negligible in buildings of good design and construction slight to moderate in well built ordinary structures; considerable in poorly built or badly designed structures. Some chimneys broken. Noticed by persons driving motor cars.
VIII. Damage slight in specially designed structures; considerable in ordinary substantial buildings, with partial collapse; great in poorly built structures. Panel walls thrown out of frame structures. Fall of chimneys, factory stacks, columns, monuments, walls. Heavy furniture overturned. Sand and mud ejected in small amounts. Changes in well water. Persons driving motor cars disturbed.
IX. Damage considerable in specially designed structures; well-designed frame structures thrown out of plumb; great in substantial buildings, with partial collapse. Buildings shifted off foundations. Ground cracked conspicuously. Underground pipes broken.
X. Some well-built wooden structures destroyed; most masonry and frame structures destroyed with foundations; ground badly cracked. Rails bent. Landslides considerable from river banks and steep slopes. Shifted sand and mud. Water splashed over banks
XI. Few, if any (masonry), structures remain standing. Bridges destroyed. Broad fissures in ground. Underground pipelines completely out of service. Earth slumps and land slips in soft ground. Rails bent greatly.
XII. Damage total. Waves seen on ground surfaces. Lines of sight and level distorted. Objects thrown upward into the air.
Unpublished or Group Intensity
Definition not provided.
U = Intensity (MM) assigned that was not listed in the source document.
G = Intensity grouped I-III in the source document was reassigned intensity III.
Country
The Country where the felt report occurred.
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
CANADA
MEXICO
PANAMA
PHILIPPINES
USA
USA TERRITORY
Data Source
This is a code referring to the source of one or more of the reported parameters (e.g., epicenter, city and intensity). References are listed below.
B = Report by Bollinger and Stover, 1976.
C = Quarterly Seismological Reports, 1925-27.
H = Earthquake History of the United States.
K = Report by Carnegie Institution, 1908, 1910.
N = Report by Nuttli, 1973.
Q = Abstracts of Earthquake Reports for the United States, 1933-70.
S = Unpublished report by Nina Scott, 1965.
W = Monthly Weather Service Seismological Reports, 1914-24.
U = United States Earthquakes, 1928-85.
ASCII
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Hazards Data Manager
haz.info@noaa.gov
pointOfContact
Free online
300.0
https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazard/eq-intensity.shtml
http
United States Earthquake Intensity Database
Descriptive page for the U.S. Earthquake Intensity Database, a collection of intensities for over 23,000 U.S. earthquakes. The digital database contains information regarding epicentral coordinates, magnitudes, focal depths, names and coordinates of reporting cities (or localities), reported intensities, and the distance from city (or locality) to epicenter. The database file is static and is no longer being updated.
search
https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazard/intintro.shtml
United States Earthquake Intensity Database, 1638-1985
Description of database, definition of variables, history of earthquake intensity scales, collecting data on earthquake intensity, and references.
information
dataset
Although the history of the development of earthquake intensity scales is long and interesting, only a brief summary will be
presented here. Poarid, an Italian, made the first known attempt to classify earthquakes by intensity in 1627; he used a scale
of four levels of intensity to describe effects of earthquakes experienced at different towns. Although many additional
attempts were made in the 18th and 19th centuries to develop comprehensive scales for measuring earthquake intensity, none
was more widely used than that formulated in 1873 by M. S. de Rossi of Italy and F. A. Forel of Switzerland. But this scale
also had severe limitations, and therefore was superseded in the early 1900s by Mercalli's revised intensity scale; it
contained 12 levels of intensity.
In 1931, a modified version of Mercalli's scale was published by H. O. Wood and Frank Neumann. Known as the Modified Mercalli
Intensity Scale of 1931, it has become the standard used by the United States engineering seismology community, which includes
the National Geophysical Data Center and the U.S. Geological Survey.
Earthquake intensity data is gathered.
United States Geological Survey (USGS)
originator
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) was responsible for collecting these data.
dataset
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is the Federal agency responsible for collecting earthquake intensity data. The USGS carries
out this responsibility using a questionnaire called "Earthquake Report," and also sends field investigators to the scene of
destructive earthquakes to analyze the resulting damage. Different versions of the questionnaire have been used since the
mid-1920s by several groups who were responsible for collecting intensity data. The present questionnaire contains pertinent
questions about earthquake effects that enable a seismologist to evaluate the intensity of the earthquake in all parts of the
shaken area; it also is designed specifically for computer processing.
In the past, the USGS sent questionnaires immediately after each U.S. earthquake to postmasters, National Weather Service
offices, military installations, and others, requesting that they report all effects of the earthquake in their area. If the
earthquake was damaging, expert observers travelled to the field to investigate and photograph the damage incurred. This
data-collection program was supplemented by newspaper accounts of earthquake effects, published scientific reports, and reports
provided by seismology collaborators.
After the completed earthquake questionnaires were returned to USGS, a seismologist analyzed each report and assigned
intensities on the basis of the effects at each town; intensity (or isoseismal) maps were then constructed for earthquakes
felt over large areas. Descriptions and maps of these events were published annually in the United States Earthquakes series,
and a summary of the stronger earthquakes (MM intensity >= V) was published periodically in Earthquake History of the United
States.
The USGS now only canvasses selected earthquakes.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is the Federal agency responsible for collecting earthquake intensity data. The USGS carries
out this responsibility using a questionnaire called "Earthquake Report," and also sends field investigators to the scene of
destructive earthquakes to analyze the resulting damage. Different versions of the questionnaire have been used since the
mid-1920s by several groups who were responsible for collecting intensity data. The present questionnaire contains pertinent
questions about earthquake effects that enable a seismologist to evaluate the intensity of the earthquake in all parts of the
shaken area; it also is designed specifically for computer processing.
In the past, the USGS sent questionnaires immediately after each U.S. earthquake to postmasters, National Weather Service
offices, military installations, and others, requesting that they report all effects of the earthquake in their area. If the
earthquake was damaging, expert observers travelled to the field to investigate and photograph the damage incurred. This
data-collection program was supplemented by newspaper accounts of earthquake effects, published scientific reports, and reports
provided by seismology collaborators.
After the completed earthquake questionnaires were returned to USGS, a seismologist analyzed each report and assigned
intensities on the basis of the effects at each town; intensity (or isoseismal) maps were then constructed for earthquakes
felt over large areas. Descriptions and maps of these events were published annually in the United States Earthquakes series,
and a summary of the stronger earthquakes (MM intensity >= V) was published periodically in Earthquake History of the United
States.
The USGS now only canvasses selected earthquakes.
repository
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
NOAA created the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) by merging NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), and National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), including the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC), per the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113-235. NCEI launched publicly on April 22, 2015.
2015-04-22T00:00:00
unknown
This record was automatically modified on 2015-10-01 to include references to NCEI where applicable.
Updated 2022-06-14 to replace broken link to IDB with HTML web page.
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Metadata Specialist
editor