Seismic zone

<h2 id="the-major-seismic-zones">The major seismic zones</h2>
<p>A type of seismic zone is a <a href="/facts/Wadati%E2%80%93Benioff_zone/SWy7E56r">Wadati–Benioff zone</a> which corresponds with the down-going <a href="/facts/Slab_(geology)/eStMGnKx">slab</a> in a <a href="/facts/Subduction/rkasNdTo">subduction</a> zone.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> The world's greatest seismic belt, known as the Circum-Pacific seismic belt,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> is where a majority of the Earth's quakes occur. Approximately 81% of major earthquakes occur along this belt. The Circum-Pacific seismic belt has earned its own nickname and is often referred to as the <a href="/facts/Ring_of_Fire/UpRWnP2P">Ring of Fire</a>, a ring-like formation that encompasses a majority of the <a href="/facts/Pacific_Ocean/bdxgXRVM">Pacific Ocean</a>. The notorious <a href="/facts/San_Andreas_Fault/cxcmWKfc">San Andreas Fault</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> responsible for many major quakes in the <a href="/facts/West_Coast_of_the_United_States/I4cXGCq0">West Coast of the United States</a>, lies within the Circum-Pacific Seismic Belt or Ring of Fire.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a>
</p>
<h2 id="examples">Examples</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Charlevoix_seismic_zone/NU77VxsX">Charlevoix seismic zone</a> (<a href="/facts/Quebec/4hhNvb4t">Quebec</a>, Canada)</li>
<li><a href="/facts/New_Madrid_seismic_zone/JmEqhBmo">New Madrid seismic zone</a> (<a href="/facts/Midwestern_United_States/VanHjkw2">Midwestern United States</a>)</li>
<li><a href="/facts/South_West_seismic_zone/1UgzLoFl">South West seismic zone</a> (<a href="/facts/Western_Australia/1ouCbwNh">Western Australia</a>)</li></ul>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/List_of_fault_zones/JFoxYlgS">List of fault zones</a></li></ul>

<p> This article incorporates <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits">public domain material</a> from websites or documents of the <a href="/facts/United_States_Geological_Survey/nVaGtMjl">United States Geological Survey</a>.
</p>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>"What is a seismic zone, or seismic hazard zone? Where can I find information on seismic zones 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4? What seismic zone is location X in?". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2018-05-31. <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-a-seismic-zone-or-seismic-hazard-zone-where-can-i-find-information-seismic-zones-0-1-2-3?qt-news_science_products=7#qt-news_science_products" target="_blank">https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-a-seismic-zone-or-seismic-hazard-zone-where-can-i-find-information-seismic-zones-0-1-2-3?qt-news_science_products=7#qt-news_science_products</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>"Benioff zone (seismic belt) – Britannica Online Encyclopedia". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 2018-05-31. <a href="http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/60933/Benioff-zone" target="_blank">http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/60933/Benioff-zone</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>"Where do earthquakes occur? | U.S. Geological Survey". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2024-06-01. <a href="https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/where-do-earthquakes-occur" target="_blank">https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/where-do-earthquakes-occur</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:4"><p>"The San Andreas Fault". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2024-06-01. <a href="https://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/earthq3/safaultgip.html" target="_blank">https://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/earthq3/safaultgip.html</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:5"><p>"Ring of Fire | Definition, Map, & Facts | Britannica". Encyclopædia Britannica. 2024-05-09. Retrieved 2024-06-01. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Ring-of-Fire" target="_blank">https://www.britannica.com/place/Ring-of-Fire</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Seismic zone open-in-new

Seismic zone