Nearly 75% of the US is at risk from damaging earthquakes, new map reveals

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A new, ultra-detailed map shows that 75% of U.S. states are at risk of damaging earthquakes, but some are at far more risk than others.

The skyline of Seattle during sunset.
The skyline of Seattle during sunset. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Nearly 75% of the U.S. could be struck by damaging earthquakes, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has discovered.

The new finding, made by a model used to build a color-coded earthquake map, reveals that millions of Americans live in areas with a high earthquake risk. That includes known earthquake hazard zones such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle but also locations like Salt Lake City and Memphis.

According to the new model, 37 U.S. states have experienced earthquakes greater than magnitude 5 in the last 200 years. 

Related: Simultaneous rupture of faults triggered massive earthquake in Seattle area 1,100 years ago — and it could happen again

The National Seismic Hazard Model map, displaying the likelihood of damaging earthquake shaking in the United States over the next 100 years. (Image credit: USGS)

"Earthquakes are difficult to forecast but we've made great strides with this new model," lead author Mark Petersen, a geophysicist at the USGS, said in a statement. "The update includes more faults, better-characterized land surfaces, and computational advancements in modeling that provide the most detailed view ever of the earthquake risks we face."

Earthquakes occur because tectonic plates get locked together as they move over the mantle. The forces that caused them to collide continue to build up until the plates suddenly shift . This creates a gigantic rupture, releasing energy in the form of potentially devastating seismic waves that violently shake the ground.

Scientists have searched for patterns that could forecast major earthquakes for decades, but without a precise map of Earth's subterranean crust, these efforts have come up short. Instead, geophysicists collate data on past earthquakes' locations and magnitudes to create risk maps indicating where the strongest and most frequent temblors could hit.

The new map is the first National Seismic Hazard Model to chart this risk across all 50 states, and is the result of a collaborative effort between federal, state and local officials.

Notably in the new model, the strength of the quakes in Hawaii have been upgraded — the consequence of increased volcanic activity witnessed in recent years in the region.

"This was a massive, multi-year collaborative effort between federal, state and local governments and the private sector," Petersen said. "The new seismic hazard model represents a touchstone achievement for enhancing public safety."

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Ben Turner
Ben Turner
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Ben Turner is a U.K. based writer and editor at Live Science. He covers physics and astronomy, tech and climate change. He graduated from University College London with a degree in particle physics before training as a journalist. When he's not writing, Ben enjoys reading literature, playing the guitar and embarrassing himself with chess.