# Earthquake Information For the World

### Understanding Earthquake Hazards Around the World

Since 1973, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has provided up-to-date
earthquake information to scientists, government agencies, universities,
private companies, and the general public. This information includes determinations
of the locations and severity of seismic events in the United States and
throughout the world, including the rapid analysis of significant earthquakes
on a 24-hour basis. Seism-mologists around the world use this information
to increase their understanding of earthquakes and to better evaluate earthquake
hazards.

The USGS National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) in Golden, Colorado,
operates a 24-hour-a-day Earthquake Early Alerting Service. This service
rapidly and accurately determines the location and magnitude of significant
earthquakes throughout the world.

The NEIC immediately sends this information to key civil defense and
public safety agencies, including railroads, powerplants, and pipeline
companies, and Federal and State emergency service agencies. The information
also goes to National and international news media, to scientific agencies
(including groups involved in aftershock studies), and to private citizens
who request information. The facts about a damaging earthquake abroad are
also relayed to staffs of the American Embassies and consulates in the
affected countries, and to the United Nations Department of Humanitarian
Affairs in Geneva, Switzerland.

The NEIC issues rapid reports for earthquakes of magnitude 4.5 or greater
in the United States, 6.5 or greater anywhere in the world, and other earthquakes
of lesser magnitude that are potentially damaging. The NEIC relies on the
cooperation of many seismic- reporting networks throughout the world to
gather data. More than 3,000 seismic stations report data to the NEIC.

Of the many millions of earthquakes estimated to occur each year, the
NEIC staff presently locates and publishes information for approximately
20,000 events. The NEIC and its cooperators have located more than a quarter
million earthquakes since 1973.

The NEIC is open to the public and provides daily tours to both
individuals and groups.

At the facility in Golden, Colorado, USGS/NEIC spokesman Waverly
Person explains earthquakes to the media, students, and other visitors
from around the world.

Worldwide seismicity map for 1995 showing about 17,000 earthquakes
of magnitude 3.0 and greater.

## NEIC Products and Services

·Preliminary Determination of Epicenters: Published and distributed
weekly to those contributing data to the NEIC; includes about 850 events
each month. A Monthly Listing version is also available to the general
public on a subscription basis through the Superintendent of Documents
in Washington, D.C.

·Earthquake Data Report: Published electronically on the World
Wide Web. This provides detailed information on about 1,600 events each
month. Information is intended for use by seismologists who provide data
to the NEIC.

·State, national, and global seismicity maps: Earthquake data
are also made available on CD-ROM's.

·Earthquake Information Line: (303-273-8516) Offers, on a 24-hour
basis, a recorded message about earthquakes throughout the world with magnitudes
5.5 or greater,and earthquakes that are felt and (or) cause damage in the
United States. The line is updated twice daily or whenever a significant
earthquake occurs.

Through the NEIC, the USGS continues to develop new technologies
to monitor, analyze, communicate, and respond to earthquake hazards. In
this role, the USGS/NEIC during the past quarter century has become the
global leader in providing timely, reliable earthquake information to the
citizens of the United States and to people with interest in earthquakes
throughout the world.

## Cooperators



For more information contact:

National Earthquake Information Center
(303)-273-8500
U.S. Geological Survey
Denver Federal Center
Mail Stop 967
Denver, CO 80225-0046 USA
http://wwwneic.cr.usgs.gov
U.S. Geological Survey

Fact Sheet 125-97
1997

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

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