The 1999 Izmit earthquake in Turkey is one of the best recorded in the world but how large was it all around the world.By Beste Saylar Nov 26 2021
izmit earthquake
How large was it?
The 1999 Izmit earthquake occured on 17 August 3.00am local time in northwestern Turkey.
The shock had a moment magnitude of 7.6
At least 17,118 people killed,
Nearly 50,000 injured,
Thousands missing,
About 500,000 people homeless.
Estimated 3 to 6.5 billion U.S. dollars damage in Istanbul, Kocaeli and Sakarya Provinces. Regarding to United States Geological Survey which is a scientific agency of the United States government where scientists study the landscape, natural resources and natural hazards that threaten it, the modified Mercalli Intencity scale indicates scale IX (nine) as violent. They define IX intensity as damage considerable in specially designed structures; well-designed frame structures thrown out of plumb. Damage is great in substantial buildings with partial collapse. Buildings are shifted off foundations. (source).
The severity of an Earthquake can be expressed in terms of both intensity and magnitude. However, the two terms are quite different;
iZMIT EARTHQUAKE HAD SCALE IX AS VIOLENT
Intensity is based on the observed effects of ground shaking on people, buildings, and natural features. It varies from place to place within the disturbed region depending on the location of the observer with respect to the earthquake epicenter.
Magnitude is related to the amount of seismic energy released at the hypocenter of the earthquake. It is based on the amplitude of the earthquake waves recorded on instruments which have a common calibration. The magnitude of an earthquake is thus represented by a single, instrumentally determined value.
The initial awareness of overall extent and importanne of
An earthquake damage is investigated in two aspects; landslides and liquefaction. Izmit Earthquake is estimated to be significant in area exposed to hazard in both section and extensive in estimated population exposure meaning that the number of people living near areas that could have produced landslides and liquefaction in this earthquake is extensive.
LANDSLIDES: Landslides are commonly triggered by earthquakes in mountainous or hilly regions and can cause deaths, injuries, and damage.
LIQUEFACTION: Liquefaction is the loss of strength of loose, saturated soils caused by earthquake shaking that results in soil that behaves more like a liquid than a solid.
Geolocation of Izmit Earthquake - M 7.6 - western Turkey - 40.748°N 29.864°E
The geographical location of Izmit is between 40°-41° N and 29°-31° E, surrounded by the Gulf of Izmit at south, Istanbul and the Sea of Marmara at west, the Black Sea at north, and Sakarya at east.
The city is mostly built on hill slopes because of the cramped area, while flat plains surround the gulf, near the sea.
Izmit is geologically surrounded by water and mostly built in hill slopes. This makes this location vulnerable in both landslide and liquefaction factors. (souce)
I investigated my question about how large this earthquake was within the globe by getting data in two sections.
First, I’ve get a customized data of magnitude 7.6+ (the izmit earthquake’s magnitude rate), worldwide from August 17th 1999 (Izmit Earthquake date) to today.
Souce: Customized Data
RESULTS
The result showed there has been 97 earthquakes total as much as big as Izmit Earthquake in 20 years.
Largest Earthquake happened with magnitude of 9.1 in 2011 called Great Tohoku Earthquake, Japan.
Turkey-Izmit earthquake is the 97th biggest earthquake from it’s time happened.
Data in JSON format - link
Data in CSV format - embed
Observable - link
Map USGS -link
Second, I’ve get the data of the largest earthquakes in the world (as it’s been considered largest earthquakes are more than magnitude 7.0+), worldwide from August 17th 1999 (Izmit Earthquake date) to today.
Souce: Magnitude 7 +
RESULTS
The result showed there has been 1415 earthquakes total being considered as largest earthquakes in the world.
Largest magnitude rate of 9.5 is Great Chilean Earthquake(Valdivia Earthquake) as being considered as extreme in year 1960.
Lowest magnitude rate of 7.0 is South of Alaska earthquake happened in 1901.
Newest large earthquake happened in year 2020/10/30 magnitude 7.0 in Néon Karlovásion, Greece
Data in JSON format - link
Data in CSV format - embed
Observable - link
Map USGS - link
Than, I’ve put the Largest Earthquakes csv. file in Flourish Studio and put it to timeline where the first discovery of earthquake data from 1990 to today ant try to visualize the data through rate though month and gave the category of magnitude from 7.0 to 9.1 (largest ever discovered).
This visualization below shows the data visualization of the largest earthquakes happened from 1990 to today(2020) through rate/month.
OBSERVATION:
About this Story:
Historical analysis of earthquakes ever recorded from 1900’s and comparison of how large 1999 izmit Earthquake from the others.
For the analysis, I’ve used USGS data of largest earthquakes happened and USGS data of +7.6 magnitude earthquakes recorded after Izmit Earthquake.