How to read the earthquake map
Each circle is one earthquake. Bigger, redder circles are stronger quakes: green is under magnitude 2.5, yellow is 2.5–4.5, orange is 4.5–6 and red is magnitude 6 or more. Tap a circle to see the exact magnitude, depth, local time and a link to the full USGS event page. The list under the map shows the newest quakes first, with times converted to your device's time zone. The map refreshes on its own every two minutes.
What do magnitude and depth mean?
Magnitude measures the energy released. The scale is logarithmic: each whole number is about 32 times more energy than the one below it, so a magnitude 6 releases roughly 1,000 times the energy of a magnitude 4. Most quakes below 2.5 are not felt. Quakes of 4.5 or more can be felt widely, and magnitude 6 and above can cause serious damage near populated areas. Depth matters too: a shallow quake (less than 70 km deep) usually shakes the surface more strongly than a deep one of the same magnitude.
Why are there so many earthquakes?
The USGS records thousands of earthquakes every week. Most happen along the edges of tectonic plates, such as the Pacific "Ring of Fire" around Japan, Indonesia, Chile, Alaska and California. You will also notice many small quakes in places with dense sensor networks, like California, Alaska and Hawaii, simply because more small events are detected there.
Staying safe
This map is for information and learning. It is not an early-warning system. If you feel strong shaking, follow the official advice: Drop, Cover and Hold On. For tsunami warnings, always follow your national warning centre and local authorities.
Frequently asked questions
Where does this earthquake data come from?
From the official U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) real-time GeoJSON feed, which includes earthquakes worldwide. USGS data is in the public domain.
How often is the map updated?
USGS updates its feed every minute. This page reloads the data automatically every two minutes, or whenever you change a filter.
Why is my local quake missing?
Very small quakes outside the US may not appear until a regional network reports them. Try the "All" magnitude filter and the past 7 days.
Can this predict earthquakes?
No. Nobody can predict the exact time and place of an earthquake. The map only shows quakes that have already happened.
More live Earth & Space tools
Data and credits: Earthquake data: U.S. Geological Survey (public domain). Map imagery: NASA GIBS Blue Marble (public domain). Labels © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Map library: Leaflet (BSD-2). See all Live Earth & Space tools and our credits page.