shallow earthquake

geology

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July 13, 2026

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Shallow earthquakes originate within 60 km (40 miles) of Earth's surface, and the vast majority of earthquake foci are shallow. While smaller earthquakes' geographic distribution is less precisely known due to observatory placement, shallow quakes are the most common globally. Intermediate earthquakes, with focal depths between 60 and 300 km, account for about 12 percent of the total energy released by earthquakes, while deeper earthquakes contribute about 3 percent. The frequency of earthquakes decreases significantly with increasing focal depth.1

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earthquake
Shallow, intermediate, and deep foci
Most parts of the world experience at least occasional shallow earthquakes—those that originate within 60 km (40 miles) of the Earth’s outer surface. In fact, the great majority of earthquake foci are shallow. It should be noted, however, that the…
Read More
Most parts of the world experience at least occasional shallow earthquakes—those that originate within 60 km (40 miles) of the Earth’s outer surface. In fact, the great majority of earthquake foci are shallow. It should be noted, however, that the…
Read More