Analyze Earthquake Magnitude and Depth

Magnitude and depth are central earthquake fields, but a scatter plot can invite conclusions the data does not support. The USGS Earthquake Scraper provides the surrounding attributes needed to keep an analysis grounded.

Collect a comparable event slice

Set a time period, magnitude range, and ordering before downloading.

{"startTime":"2026-01-01","minMagnitude":5,"maxMagnitude":6.9,"orderBy":"magnitude","maxResults":2000}

Plot magnitude against depth_km, then encode significance or alert as a separate dimension. Do not treat significance as magnitude under another name; it is a USGS-derived importance measure. Keep magnitude type in the table because different solution methods can appear in one catalog.

Map longitude and latitude to see tectonic patterns, but avoid interpreting place as a precise jurisdiction. For impact analysis, include felt reports, community intensity, instrumental intensity, and official alert level when present. Null values mean the measure was not supplied, not necessarily that the effect was zero.

Separate automatic and reviewed statuses if the research requires stable solutions. Use the event updated timestamp to identify revisions. When combining repeated runs, retain one current row per ID rather than counting every revision as a new earthquake.

State selection rules in every chart: time zone, start and end bounds, minimum magnitude, depth filters, and catalog collection date. These choices strongly affect the distribution. Domain review is essential before connecting catalog parameters to damage, safety, or causal claims.

Where possible, add uncertainty-aware interpretation from a qualified seismologist before using the analysis in public risk communication or policy recommendations.