Earthquake Safety & Monitoring

How Earthquake Detection Works

Every earthquake — whether you feel it or not — sends seismic waves radiating outward through the Earth in all directions. These waves travel through rock, soil, and water at speeds of several kilometers per second, and they can be detected thousands of kilometers away by sensitive instruments called seismometers.

When you receive an earthquake notification in the Carrington app, it is the result of an automated process that spans dozens of seismograph stations, international data networks, and real-time computing systems — all operating in concert within minutes of the event.

Seismograph Networks

No single organization monitors every earthquake globally. Instead, a patchwork of national and international networks shares data in near real time:

• USGS National Seismic Hazard Mapping Project — Operates more than 2,000 seismographs across the United States and integrates data from partner networks worldwide.
• Global Seismographic Network (GSN) — A collaborative of USGS and Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS), with ~150 stations on all seven continents.
• Regional networks — The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), Indonesia's BMKG, Chile's CSN, and many others run dense national networks optimized for local event detection and early warning.

These networks share data through the International Federation of Digital Seismograph Networks (FDSN), enabling rapid magnitude and location estimates within a few minutes of a significant event.

Magnitude Scales

Earthquake magnitude is a measure of the energy released at the source. There have been several scales over the decades, and confusion between them is common. Here is a plain-language breakdown.

Moment Magnitude (Mw) — The Modern Standard

The Moment Magnitude scale (Mw) is the scientific standard used globally today. It is logarithmic: each whole number increase represents approximately 32 times more energy released. This means an M7.0 earthquake releases about 32 times more energy than an M6.0, and roughly 1,000 times more than an M5.0.

What To Do During an Earthquake

Most earthquake-related injuries result not from the ground movement itself, but from falling objects, shattering glass, and structural collapse. The actions you take in the first few seconds matter enormously.

Drop, Cover, Hold On

The internationally recommended action during ground shaking is Drop, Cover, Hold On:

• Drop to your hands and knees. This lowers your center of gravity and keeps you stable. It also frees your hands to crawl to cover.
• Cover your head and neck with your arms. If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, move under it. If no shelter is available, move against an interior wall away from windows.
• Hold On until the shaking stops. If you are under a table, hold onto a leg. If you are against a wall, keep your head and neck covered with your arms.

Do not run outside during shaking. Most injuries occur when people try to move or run and are hit by falling debris. If you are outdoors when shaking starts, move away from buildings, power lines, and streetlights, and Drop, Cover, Hold On in the open.

After the Shaking Stops

Expect aftershocks. These are smaller earthquakes that follow the main event and can last for days, weeks, or months. Major earthquakes (M7+) can have aftershocks strong enough to cause additional structural damage. If you are in a damaged building, leave carefully once shaking has completely stopped.

• Check for injuries to yourself and those around you. Treat serious injuries before attempting to move people.
• Check for gas leaks. If you smell gas, leave the building immediately, do not use lights or switches, and call emergency services from outside.
• Avoid entering damaged structures. Aftershocks can cause already-weakened buildings to collapse.
• If near a coastline, move to high ground immediately after any strong shaking — even before receiving a tsunami warning. Do not wait for official word.

Global Seismic Zones

Earthquakes are not random. They occur overwhelmingly along tectonic plate boundaries, where the large segments of Earth's crust interact. Understanding where you live relative to these zones is essential context for interpreting earthquake alerts.

The Pacific Ring of Fire

The Ring of Fire is a 40,000-kilometer horseshoe-shaped belt encircling the Pacific Ocean. It is home to about 90% of the world's earthquakes and more than 75% of its active volcanoes. Countries along or near the Ring of Fire include Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, New Zealand, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Mexico, the United States (California, Alaska, Pacific Northwest), and Canada's British Columbia.

The Alpide Belt

The second most seismically active zone is the Alpide Belt, stretching from the Atlantic through the Mediterranean, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and into Southeast Asia. Devastating historical earthquakes in Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India, and Nepal have all occurred along this belt.

Mid-Ocean Ridges

Undersea spreading zones — where tectonic plates pull apart — also generate earthquakes, though these usually occur far from population centers and are less likely to cause direct harm. However, they can occasionally generate tsunamis if the seafloor displacement is large enough.

How Carrington Delivers Earthquake Alerts

Carrington integrates with the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and regional seismological networks to provide rapid, accurate earthquake notifications. The system is designed for speed and relevance — so you get the alerts that matter to you without being overwhelmed by minor events in distant regions.

How alerts are processed

When USGS (or a regional partner network) publishes a seismic event, Carrington's backend receives the data feed, applies your configured filters, and dispatches a push notification to your device. For significant earthquakes (M5.5 and above), this typically takes one to five minutes from event time. Early magnitude estimates may be refined; the app automatically reflects USGS revisions as they are published.

Configuring your alerts

Open Settings → Notifications → Earthquake Alerts and set:

• Minimum magnitude — The default is M4.0. Lower this to receive more alerts; raise it to receive only significant events.
• Geographic filter — Optionally restrict alerts to events within a radius of your current location or a saved place.
• Alert sound — Choose a distinctive tone to distinguish earthquake alerts from other notifications.

Higher subscription tiers unlock additional options such as earlier alert delivery windows and access to tsunami watch status alongside seismic events.