A catalog of historical earthquakes in China compiled from recent Chinese publications

1976/12/01 by W. H. K. Lee, Francis T. Wu, Carl G. Jacobsen · 1 voice · 2 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Computer Science · #earthquake and tectonic studies #Seismology and Earthquake Studies #Earthquake Detection and Analysis

paper · doi:10.1785/bssa0660062003

openalex publication_date 1976/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/11

Abstract

abstract A catalog of historical earthquakes in China from 1177 B.C. to 1899 A.D. has been compiled in a form suitable for computers. The data include the date, epicenter, magnitude, and epicentral intensity of the earthquake as well as the province where the earthquake occurred. The source materials are publications in Chinese of the Institute of Geophysics, Academia Sinica. Some of the historical events are evidently related to large faults that are easily discernible from satellite images. Comparing the historical seismicity map to epicenters located by the World Wide Standardized Seismograph Network stations since 1962, we may see the influence of population distribution on the historical data.

Cited by

• A major, intraplate, normal‐faulting earthquake: The 1739 Yinchuan event in northern China
• Estimated intensities and probable tectonic sources of historic (pre-1898) Honduran earthquakes

Discussions

• 14 January 1885 17:00 UT M6 earthquake hit the area of Tianshui, Southeastern Gansu, Northern China, collapsing houses and killing at least 80 people. Also felt in the neighbouring province of Shaanxi [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]