Geographer maps earthquake risk to population centres

The World Earthquake Intensity Map has been created on an equal-population map and allows users to understand the earthquake intensity in relation to today’s population distribution, giving an idea of where most people are at risk in regards to seismic activity.

It provides a visualisation of all major earthquakes that have been complied in the Global Significant Earthquake Database. The database contains information on destructive earthquakes from 2150 BC to the present day that meet at least one of the following criteria: moderate damage (approximately $1m or more), 10 or more deaths, magnitude 7.5 or greater, modified Mercalli intensity X or greater, or the earthquake generated a tsunami.

The map was created using these records by calculating ’kernel density’, an equation that shows the probability distribution of earthquakes, to visualise the areas most at risk from 2150 BC to the present day. The new earthquake map was then created by transforming the data in a way that highlights populated areas while eliminating depopulated regions.