Earthquake Odyssey: Mapping a Century of Seismic Impact
Social and Humanitarian Issues
This analysis is focused on exploring the earthquake activity over the last hundred years, in terms of magnitude, damage caused, lives lost, and houses destroyed, among other things.
Therefore, the dashboard was designed to present geographic information of various categories and graphical information on the earthquake trend over the last few years. In addition, by using region, magnitude and year filters, the viewer can filter the information needed in a simplified and effective way.
This data can then be used for different purposes, such as for determining the frequency of occurrence of earthquake activity, for earthquake risk assessment, and also for interpreting the geological and tectonic activity of various regions. By making a detailed analysis, preventive measures can be taken that help to reduce the damage caused by earthquake activity across the planet.
GOAL
The main purpose of this dashboard is to explore relevant information about earthquakes that have occurred in the last 100 years.
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Which earthquakes have caused the most damage?
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Is there an area of the planet where there is more seismic activity?
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Is there a relationship between the magnitude of the earthquake and its consequences, such as deaths, destroyed houses or missing persons?
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How has seismic activity changed over the years?
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Have preventive actions reduced the number of losses in recent years?
RESULT
The monitoring of seismic activity has gained more and more importance over the years as it allows intervention in advance and reduces the damage caused by earthquakes. Maps and relevant information such as earthquake magnitude, depth and location provide important information for the implementation of mitigation measures against the effects of destructive earthquakes such as the design of road bridges and buildings, among other infrastructure projects in areas with high levels of seismic activity. These prevention actions make it possible to decrease the damage caused by earthquakes such as the number of deaths, missing persons, destroyed houses and other losses. Therefore monitoring the planet's seismic activity is so important.
INSIGHTS
In the last century, the most devastating earthquakes in terms of lives lost occurred in 1923 in Japan (143K), in 1976 in China (243K), and in 2010 in Haiti (326K). The magnitudes of these earthquakes were 7.9, 7.3 and 7 respectively, so they were classified as Major on the Richter scale.
Earthquakes with a magnitude over 9 on the Richter scale occurred in the Pacific Gulf in 1960 (Chile), 1964 (Alaska), 2004 (Indonesia) and 2011 (Japan). All of these earthquakes were followed by a Tsunami event. The Indonesia earthquake caused the most damage while the Chile earthquake caused the most houses destroyed.
Over the past 40 years there has been an increase in the number of earthquakes, especially those with a magnitude less than 6 on the Richter scale. However, there is also an increase in the number of occurrences in earthquakes with magnitude between 6 and 7.
From 2010 to 2020, there were 13 earthquakes with a magnitude higher than 6 on the Richter scale in Europe (Eastern Europa, Northern and Western Europa and Southern Europa), with 8 of them occurring in Greece and 4 of them in Italy.
