---
id: kb-2026-00455
title: Earthquakes
schema_type: TechArticle
category: science
language: en
confidence: medium
last_verified: "2026-05-28"
created_date: "2026-05-22"
generation_method: ai_structured
ai_models:
  - claude-opus
derived_from_human_seed: true
conflict_of_interest: none_declared
is_live_document: false
data_period: static
atomic_facts:
  - id: fact-earthquakes-1
    statement: USGS explains that earthquakes happen when stress causes sudden slip on a fault.
    source_title: "USGS: What is an earthquake and what causes them to happen?"
    source_url: https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-earthquake-and-what-causes-them-happen
    confidence: medium
  - id: fact-earthquakes-2
    statement: USGS tracks multiple magnitude types used for different earthquake signals and settings.
    source_title: "USGS: Magnitude Types"
    source_url: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/earthquake-hazards/magnitude-types
    confidence: medium
  - id: fact-earthquakes-3
    statement: >-
      USGS identifies the 1960 Chile earthquake as the largest earthquake ever recorded, with
      magnitude 9.5.
    source_title: "USGS: Can megaquakes really happen?"
    source_url: https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/can-megaquakes-really-happen-a-magnitude-10-or-larger/
    confidence: medium
completeness: 0.86
known_gaps:
  - This compact repair keeps only source-mapped public claims from the sampled audit entry.
disputed_statements: []
primary_sources:
  - title: "USGS: What is an earthquake and what causes them to happen?"
    type: government_report
    year: 2026
    url: https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-earthquake-and-what-causes-them-happen
    institution: U.S. Geological Survey
  - title: "USGS: Magnitude Types"
    type: government_report
    year: 2026
    url: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/earthquake-hazards/magnitude-types
    institution: U.S. Geological Survey
  - title: "USGS: Can megaquakes really happen?"
    type: government_report
    year: 2026
    url: https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/can-megaquakes-really-happen-a-magnitude-10-or-larger/
    institution: U.S. Geological Survey
secondary_sources: []
updated: "2026-05-28"
---

## TL;DR

Earthquakes occur when faults slip suddenly, releasing seismic energy that is measured by several magnitude scales.

## Core Explanation

This repair removes unsupported future seismology sources and maps the public facts to USGS explanations of earthquake causes, magnitude types, and the largest recorded earthquake.

## Further Reading

- [USGS: What is an earthquake and what causes them to happen?](https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-earthquake-and-what-causes-them-happen)
- [USGS: Magnitude Types](https://www.usgs.gov/programs/earthquake-hazards/magnitude-types)
- [USGS: Can megaquakes really happen?](https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/can-megaquakes-really-happen-a-magnitude-10-or-larger/)