Leslie Massey
Australia experiences earthquakes, despite the common misconception that they only occur in countries like Japan and New Zealand. On average, 100 earthquakes of magnitude 3 or more are recorded in the country each year. While earthquakes can occur anywhere in Australia, some cities are more prone to them than others. Adelaide, for instance, has suffered more medium-sized quakes in the past 50 years than any other capital city. Melbourne, too, has experienced notable earthquakes, including one in 2021 that was the city's largest in over 120 years. Australia's largest recorded earthquake occurred in 1988 in the Northern Territory, with an estimated magnitude of 6.6.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| State with the highest risk of earthquakes | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Number of earthquakes of magnitude 3 or more recorded in Australia annually | 100 |
| Most recent earthquake | Broome, Western Australia, 14 July 2019 |
| Largest recorded earthquake | Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, 1988, magnitude 6.6 |
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What You'll Learn
- Australia's largest recorded earthquake
- Earthquakes in Australia are most common in areas such as the Eastern Highlands
- Australia's building code and earthquake resilience
- The National Seismic Hazard Assessment map predicts the areas most at risk
- The Australian plate is the fastest-moving continental land mass on Earth
Australia's largest recorded earthquake
Australia experiences about one small earthquake a day. However, the country has seen few big earthquakes, and large earthquakes are infrequent. An earthquake exceeding magnitude 7 occurs somewhere in Australia only about once every 100 years.
The largest earthquake ever recorded in Australia occurred in 1988 at Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory. It had an estimated moment magnitude of 6.6. The earthquake occurred in a sparsely populated area, but it did result in damage to a major gas pipeline.
The Tennant Creek earthquake was one of three powerful earthquakes that shook the region, each about half an hour apart and lasting up to 45 seconds. The magnitudes of the other two earthquakes were 6.3 and 6.7.
Another notable earthquake in Australia's history was the 1968 Meckering earthquake, which had a magnitude of 6.5 and caused extensive damage to buildings. It was felt over most of southern Western Australia.
Other significant earthquakes in Australia include:
- The 1989 Newcastle earthquake, which caused $37.2 million in insurance payouts and serious damage to fifty hotels and other buildings.
- The 1929 Broome earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.6, which occurred offshore to the northwest of Broome, Western Australia.
- The 2019 Broome earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.6, which occurred 200 km offshore to the northwest of Broome, Western Australia, and caused minor damage to the town.
- The 1937 Simpson Desert earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.0, which occurred in a remote location in the Northern Territory, southeast of Alice Springs.
- The 1941 Simpson Desert earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.5, which occurred in a remote location in the Northern Territory, southeast of Alice Springs.
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Earthquakes in Australia are most common in areas such as the Eastern Highlands
While earthquakes can occur anywhere in Australia, they are more common in some areas than others. The country experiences about 100 earthquakes of magnitude 3 or higher annually, and those above magnitude 5.0 happen once every one to two years.
Eastern Australia, including the Eastern Highlands, is particularly susceptible to earthquakes, with seismic activity occurring at depths of around 20 km. Shallow earthquakes, which take place within 70 km of the surface, can cause significant damage, while deeper earthquakes rarely cause harm. The rocks in Western and Central Australia are relatively old, cold, and hard, so seismic waves are not significantly weakened by absorption.
Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, has the highest risk of any capital in the country. Squeezed sideways by geological forces, it has experienced more medium-sized quakes in the past 50 years than any other Australian capital.
The Northern Territory has also experienced notable earthquakes. The largest recorded earthquake in Australia occurred in 1988 at Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory, with a magnitude of 6.6. Additionally, the Simpson Desert in the Northern Territory has been the site of earthquakes measuring 6.0 and 6.5 in 1937 and 1941, respectively.
While large earthquakes are unlikely to occur within Australia, the country is not immune to seismic activity. The Australian plate is the fastest-moving continental land mass, colliding with the Pacific plate to the north and east and the Eurasian Plate to the northwest. This generates compressive stress in the Australian continent's interior, which can be released suddenly when rocks deep underground break and move along a fault line, resulting in an earthquake.
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Australia's building code and earthquake resilience
The National Construction Code (NCC) and Australian Standard AS1170.4 outline the requirements for buildings to be resilient to earthquake forces. According to the NCC Performance Requirements, buildings must be designed and constructed to withstand all reasonable, expected, and extreme design actions, including earthquakes. This includes both structural and non-structural elements like glazing partitions, which can pose a hazard to occupants and cause property damage if not properly restrained.
The Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of the NCC require buildings to comply with Australian Standard AS1170.4, which sets out specific guidelines for structural design actions in the event of an earthquake. While some buildings are exempt from these standards, such as certain domestic Class 1a or 1b buildings under 8.5 meters in height, the majority of structures must adhere to these regulations.
Earthquake standards were first introduced in Australia in 1979, and the design requirements have since evolved with advancements in research and understanding. The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) and organisations like the Victorian Building Authority provide guidance on earthquake design and construction, ensuring that building owners and managers maintain safety systems and perform post-earthquake inspections to guarantee the resilience of their structures.
Overall, Australia's building code aims to mitigate the impact of earthquakes and protect both lives and property. By implementing seismic design requirements and regularly reviewing and updating standards, Australia strives to enhance its resilience against this natural hazard.
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The National Seismic Hazard Assessment map predicts the areas most at risk
Australia experiences earthquakes due to the Australian plate colliding with the Pacific plate to its north and east, and the Eurasian Plate to the northwest. This results in compressive stress in the interior of the Australian continent, which is released when rocks deep underground break and move along a fault line.
The National Seismic Hazard Assessment map is a tool used to predict and prepare for the risk of earthquakes. The map is a product of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM) Project, which aims to model the ground-shaking hazard from potentially damaging earthquakes. The NSHM is a suite of products that aims to improve earthquake-resilient construction in the United States. The map is used by a variety of stakeholders, including the insurance industry, government officials, land use managers, and private companies, to assess and mitigate the risk of earthquakes.
The National Seismic Hazard Assessment map is based on a wealth of geologic and seismic information. It takes into account all known earthquake sources, their distance from a particular site, and other seismological and geological data to project potential maximum expected ground motions at that site over a given period. This information is vital for engineers constructing buildings, as it helps them understand how strongly a site might be shaken by an earthquake. By using this map, engineers can design structures that can withstand earthquake shaking, improving the safety and resilience of communities.
While the National Seismic Hazard Assessment map is a valuable tool, it is important to remember that the presence of high earthquake hazards does not necessarily equate to high seismic risks. Seismic risks are determined not only by hazard levels but also by the number of people and the value of property exposed to the hazards, as well as their vulnerability. Therefore, while the map is a crucial component of disaster risk reduction, it is just one factor in understanding and mitigating the potential impact of earthquakes.
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The Australian plate is the fastest-moving continental land mass on Earth
Australia experiences earthquakes due to its location on the Australian tectonic plate, which is the fastest-moving continental land mass on Earth. The Australian plate is moving at a rate of about 7 centimetres (or 2.7 inches) per year in a northward direction, with a slight clockwise rotation. This rate of movement is almost double the average rate of Earth's land masses, which is about 1.5 centimetres per year.
The Australian plate was once part of Gondwana, a supercontinent that occupied most of the Southern Hemisphere. Gondwana began to break up around 100 million years ago, and the Australian plate finally separated from the Antarctic plate and Zealandia in the Early Cretaceous period, around 132 million years ago. The Australian plate later fused with the Indian plate to form the Indo-Australian plate, although recent studies suggest that they may have since split apart.
The Australian plate is bordered by the Eurasian, Philippine, Pacific, Antarctic, African, and Indian plates. In the north-east, the Australian plate is colliding with the Pacific plate, which is subducting beneath it. This collision generates compressive stress in the interior of the Australian continent, which is slowly building up as the plate moves. This stress is suddenly released when rocks deep underground break and move along a fault line, causing earthquakes.
While earthquakes can occur anywhere in Australia, some parts of the country are more prone to seismic activity than others. Australia's largest recorded earthquake occurred in 1988 in the Northern Territory, with a magnitude of 6.6. Other notable earthquakes include the 1968 earthquake in Meckering, Western Australia, with a magnitude of 6.5, and a 2019 earthquake off the coast of Broome, Western Australia, with a magnitude of 6.6.
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Frequently asked questions
Although rare, earthquakes can occur anywhere in Australia, and large earthquakes can take place across the continent. However, Adelaide has suffered more medium-sized quakes in the past 50 years than any other capital. Darwin also experiences a lot of shaking due to earthquakes in Indonesia.
Australia's largest recorded earthquake was in 1988 at Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory, with an estimated moment magnitude of 6.6.
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake in Meckering, Western Australia in 1968 caused extensive damage to buildings and was felt over most of southern Western Australia.
