USGS - science for a changing world

Science Features

Maps, Imagery, and Publications Hazards Newsroom Education Jobs Partnerships Library About USGS Social Media
Science Features
: Science Pick
A History of Rubble and Rumblings: Earthquakes in the Eastern U.S.
See caption:

This map shows recorded earthquakes in the central and eastern United States lain over the USGS earthquake hazard maps.

Last year’s M5.8 Virginia earthquake came as a surprise for many in the area, but in the past 400 years, there have been more than 30 damaging earthquakes in the eastern U.S., ranging from the M6.0 near Boston in 1755, to M7.3 in Charleston, S.C. in 1886. Despite this history of earthquakes the faults on which these earthquakes are occurring are poorly known, and scientists do not have a clear understanding of the causes of earthquakes in the eastern U.S. Scientists are using seismic data from the August 2011 M5.8 Virginia earthquake to answer some of these questions and to refine estimates of the of the region’s seismic hazard. Futures damaging eastern earthquakes are inevitable; join us on September 5 to find out what scientists are learning and how you can prepare for the next big one.

Time: Wednesday, September 5, 2012 • 7-8pm
Speaker: Robert Williams
Location: 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive Reston, VA 20192
Phone:  703-648-4748

Please Note: This event takes place at a Federal Facility — Photo Id is Required
FREE and Open to the Public

Follow this event live on Twitter @USGSLive
This announcement and directions can be found online.

Requests for accommodations (i.e. sign language interpreting) require notice at least two weeks before the event. Please email jcorley@usgs.gov or call 703-648-7770.

The USGS public lectures are held monthly in Reston, Virginia. These evening events are free to the public and intended to familiarize a general audience with science issues that are meaningful to their daily lives. USGS speakers are selected for their ability and enthusiasm to share their expertise with an audience that may be unfamiliar with the topic; speakers are encouraged to thoroughly explain the subject matter and to define any words or terms that may be unfamiliar.

The USGS lecture series provides the public an opportunity to interact with USGS scientists and ask questions about recent developments in Natural Hazards; Water; Energy Minerals and Environmental Health; Climate and Land Use Change; Ecosystems; and Core Science Systems. Ultimately, the goal is to create a better understanding of the importance and value of USGS science in action.

Receive news and updates:

Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

Take Pride in America logo USA.gov logo U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_science_pick/a-history-of-rubble-and-rumblings-earthquakes-in-the-eastern-u-s/
Page Contact Information: Ask USGS
Page Last Modified: September 14, 2011