Are there more earthquakes, or are we just noticing them more?

We got an earthquake

A little cabin shaking back and forth. A 7.0 magnitude earthquake rocks Alaska the morning of December 6th

More than 20 aftershocks followed. Two days later, a quake measuring 7.5 in Japan generates massive tsunamis

Earthquakes are not uncommon along what's referred to as the Ring of Fire. But should we all be worried

Typically we think of earthquakes of magnitude 5 and greater as being hazardous

And in any given year in the continental United States There's about 10 of those sized magnitude earthquakes

According to the United States Geological Survey There are approximately 20,000 earthquakes around the globe each year

That is approximately 55 per day In 2025 we're actually sitting at approximately 1,800 quakes for the year

But what causes them? In any given year, you're sort of pulling that rubber band apart slowly

and eventually you get to the point where the rubber band doesn't move anymore, won't stretch

anymore. An earthquake happens right at the point where you would stretch it just a little bit more

and that rubber band would break. In parts of the world with active fault lines like Alaska and Japan

building codes are often designed to withstand seismic movement. But that's not true everywhere

To feel an earthquake, often you feel a little dizzy. You're not quite sure what's going on

because the seismic waves are whizzing by so fast. If you're inside when an earthquake occurs

drop to the ground, cover your head, and hold on to a sturdy structure

Try to avoid areas near glass windows and don't use building elevators

If you're outside, stay away from buildings or trees that could fall

For Straight Arrow News, I'm Diane Duanez