Earthquakes in Germany

This list of earthquakes in Germany leads to earthquakes that have occurred in the territory of today's Germany or the impact of Germany concerned. Be added to the list Magnitude 4.5 earthquake off / intensity VII or in cases of special national interest.

Overview

Germany itself is located on the Eurasian continental plate. The nearest plate boundary, near which most of the earthquakes occur, is relatively far away. Thus, the earthquake in Germany have a relatively low strength, and make international comparison only small events dar. However, they affect the inhabitants of the earthquake zones of Germany (see map), and can lead to serious damage and deaths and injuries.

Centers of the earthquake frequency in Germany are in the earthquake zone Cologne Bay, south of Tübingen, in the Swabian Alb in Albstadt and in the southern Rhine Graben and in the vicinity of Gera.

Earthquake recording

Until about 1930, the magnitude of earthquakes has been described exclusively using Macroseismic scale, the earthquake divided by their visible effects, so evaluate their intensity. The best known example of such an intensity scale is the Mercalliskala. For historical earthquake records of casualty figures and descriptions of earthquake damage are often known, from which the intensity can be determined approximately. The damage depends very much on the local conditions, depending on the base, construction of buildings and other influences, the effects differ greatly in confined spaces. The objective size of an earthquake, so the released energy from him, could be calculated from the recorded seismograms only after the development of seismometers and further research.

Since about 1896 are 7.0 seismograms for all earthquakes of magnitude ≥. Since the beginning of the 20th century earthquakes have been recorded and published in national and international catalogs. The systematic recording of all earthquakes by instrumental measurement was started in Europe depending on the country only between 1950 and 1970.

A conversion of intensities in magnitudes is possible with experience-based formulas, but only under usually larger uncertainties. Thus, the direct comparison of instrumentally recorded earthquakes and historical access is limited.

List

Legend:

D = depth of the epicenter in km M = Magnitude I = intensity Q = source of information