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Quake Pulse · V4 Knowledge

Understand earthquakes

Clear, data-aware guides to earthquake science, measurements, sequences and safety.

What is an earthquake? A clear guide to how earthquakes beginUnderstand what an earthquake is, how faults rupture, where the energy comes from and how seismologists describe an event.Read the guide → Earthquake magnitude explained: what the number really meansLearn how earthquake magnitude works, why the scale is logarithmic and why magnitude is not the same as local shaking or damage.Read the guide → Earthquake depth: why shallow and deep earthquakes feel differentUnderstand earthquake focal depth, common depth ranges and why depth changes how seismic energy reaches the surface.Read the guide → Tectonic plates and earthquakes: where seismic activity comes fromSee how plate boundaries, faults and subduction zones create the global pattern of earthquakes seen on live maps.Read the guide → Seismic waves explained: P waves, S waves and surface wavesLearn how seismic waves travel, why P waves arrive first and which wave types often drive strong surface motion.Read the guide → Aftershocks explained: why earthquakes continue after the mainshockUnderstand aftershock sequences, why their rate usually decreases and why a later event can occasionally be larger.Read the guide → Can earthquakes be predicted? Prediction, forecasting and early warningUnderstand why exact earthquake prediction is not currently possible and how forecasting and early warning differ from prediction.Read the guide → Earthquake safety: what to do before, during and after shakingPractical earthquake safety principles: preparation, protective actions during shaking and the most important checks afterward.Read the guide → Earthquake glossaryKey earthquake and seismology terms explained in plain language.Read the guide →