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[[Atheism|Atheist]]ic [[scientist]]s often claim that earthquakes are caused by [[plate tectonics|tectonic]] activity in an area after the release of stored [[energy]] from the [[rock]]. But, in fact, earthquakes often do not occur on tectonic plate boundaries or [[fault]]s where previous movement has occurred. There are currently 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year.  

[[Atheism|Atheist]]ic [[scientist]]s often claim that earthquakes are caused by [[plate tectonics|tectonic]] activity in an area after the release of stored [[energy]] from the [[rock]]. But, in fact, earthquakes often do not occur on tectonic plate boundaries or [[fault]]s where previous movement has occurred. There are currently 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year.  

Earthquakes are a significant [[natural disaster]] to [[population]]s living in areas prone to them, and emergency responses to the hazard vary with [[economic]] development. A myth perpetuated by [[Old Earth]]-believers is that the most likely place for an earthquake is in proximity to tectonic plate boundaries like the San Andreas Fault.  In fact, many major earthquakes occur nowhere near a large fault line.

Earthquakes are a significant [[natural disaster]] to [[population]]s living in areas prone to them, and emergency responses to the hazard vary with [[economic]] development. A myth perpetuated by [[Old Earth]]-believers is that the most likely place for an earthquake is in proximity to tectonic plate boundaries like the San Andreas Fault.  In fact, many major earthquakes occur nowhere near a large [[fault line]].

The severity of earthquakes is measured using the moment magnitude scale, which replaced the [[Richter scale]] in the 1970s. The largest quake ever recorded had a magnitude of 9.5; it struck [[Chile]] in 1960.<ref>http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/10_largest_world.php</ref> Technically the Moment Magnitude scale only measures the absolute magnitude; the Mercalli scale is used to measure the felt magnitude - essentially how much the ground shakes over the [[epicenter]] of the quake.

The severity of earthquakes is measured using the moment magnitude scale, which replaced the [[Richter scale]] in the 1970s. The largest quake ever recorded had a magnitude of 9.5; it struck [[Chile]] in 1960.<ref>http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/world/10_largest_world.php</ref> Technically the Moment Magnitude scale only measures the absolute magnitude; the Mercalli scale is used to measure the felt magnitude - essentially how much the ground shakes over the [[epicenter]] of the quake.

[[File:Japan quake World latest USGS - PD.jpg|550px|left]]

[[File:Japan quake World latest USGS - PD.jpg|550px|left]]

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==See also==

==See also==

* [[Natural disaster]]

* [[Natural disaster]]