How common are earthquakes in Australia?

A 3.9 magnitude earthquake struck in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales on Thursday morning, causing the ground to shake as far away as Orange and Canberra. So, how common are earthquakes in Australia and how does this earthquake compare to the largest earthquakes recorded in our country?

The epicenter of the earthquake that shook New South Wales on Thursday morning was about 30 kilometers north of Goulburn. It was a relatively small and shallow earthquake, with a magnitude of 3.9 and a depth of 10 kilometers, according to the Australian Geosciences Authority.

Although it was only a relatively small earthquake, Geoscience Australia received reports felt from as far away as Orange, Canberra, Sydney and Wollongong.

Photo: Reports of Thursday's earthquake were felt. Source: Australian Earth Sciences

Fortunately, this earthquake was on the weak end of the scale, and as of late Thursday morning, there were no reports of damage.

How big is the earthquake?

The magnitude of an earthquake is a measure of the energy it releases, and is classified using a logarithmic scale. According to Geoscience Australia, each unit volume is about 30 times stronger than the previous level. This means that a magnitude 3.0 earthquake releases 30 times more energy than a magnitude 2.0 earthquake, while a magnitude 4.0 earthquake releases 900 times more energy than a magnitude 2.0 earthquake (30 x 30). This makes high-magnitude earthquakes much more damaging than low-magnitude earthquakes.

Earthquakes below magnitude 3.5 are usually too weak to cause surface damage in Australia. Once it starts to exceed 4.0 magnitude, some minor structural damage and landslides can occur.

The earthquake with the highest number of casualties in Australia was the Newcastle event in 1989. Although the earthquake was not particularly strong, measuring 5.4, it killed 13 people and injured 160 others.

The 10 largest earthquakes observed in Australia reached magnitude 6.0 to 6.6, with the largest occurring near Tennant Creek, NT in 1988.

Much larger earthquakes have been observed outside Australia. For example, the earthquake that caused the 2011 tsunami in Japan had a magnitude of 9.1, making it one of the largest earthquakes in the world since 1900.

How often do we have earthquakes in Australia?

Earthquakes in Australia are more common than many people may realise. On average, there are about 100 earthquakes of magnitude 3 or higher each year in Australia. Earthquakes with a magnitude greater than 5 occur only once every year or two, while earthquakes with a magnitude of 6 or more occur only once every decade.

You can find out more information about recent and historic Australian earthquakes on the Geoscience Australia website.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos