Each year, about 800,000 earthquakes are recorded worldwide. Most are too small to be felt, but typically at least one is a great earthquake. Most earthquakes
occur along plate boundaries when rocks that are stressed suddenly break. Like ripples from a pebble tossed into a pond, shock waves radiate from the rupture in all directions. These seismic waves shake Earth’s surface and race through its interior. In this exhibit you can learn about seismic waves and how earthquake depths, magnitudes, and frequencies are related to plate tectonics.

• Where Can You Experience an Earthquake?
• How Do We Determine an Earthquake's Size?
• Ten of the Deadliest Earthquakes
• Seismic Waves
• Which Earthquake Risk Zone Do You Live In?