Keeping track of recent earthquakes and their impact has never been easier with Mapcreator’s Earthquake Live Data Layer. Whether you need the latest data for research, media reporting, or public awareness, this feature ensures you have the most up-to-date information at any time. In this article, you’ll learn how to create a map showcasing recent earthquakes, including shakemaps that visualize the impact on surrounding areas.
How to Add the Most Recent Live Earthquake Data
Need a map with the latest earthquake data, including shakemaps that display the earthquake’s impact? Our Earthquake Live Data Layer, updated every 30 minutes with the latest USGS data, can be your new go-to. This layer includes all earthquakes from the past five weeks, sorted by newest to oldest.
Steps to Get Started
-
Select the Earthquake Layer:
- Go to the add elements menu, select Data Layers and choose the Earthquake Layer
- Go to the add elements menu, select Data Layers and choose the Earthquake Layer
-
Understand the Data Groups:
- Once selected, you’ll see the Earthquake group in the elements list
- Each earthquake entry includes up to three components:
- Location: Displays the earthquake’s location and magnitude.
- Labels: Shows the shakemap labels with local intensity measurements.
- Shakemap: Contains intensity isolines.
Shakes are labeled with the day, time (24h format), and magnitude (e.g., Wed 11:12 (5.6)). To simplify your view and help you focus on significant earthquakes, quakes with magnitudes smaller than 5.0 are automatically disabled.
Automatic Updates on the Earthquake Live Data Layer
Part of the magic of our Live Data Layers include the automatic and continuous updates as new data comes in. When you want to display this map on your website, simply download it as an iframe. The embedded map will automatically update every 30 minutes, ensuring your audience always sees the most current data without any manual work needed. Try out the interactive map below to see how it works!
If you prefer a static map, go to “Open Project” to find your previously created map. From here, you can reload the map to automatically incorporate the most recent earthquake data, then download it again. The layer can of course also be opened in a new project, in which case it will also represent the most accurate information.
It is important to note that the magnitude values can be corrected as more data becomes available hours or days after an earthquake. Since Mapcreator’s live data layer receives regular updates from USGS, these corrected values will reflect on your maps, ensuring accuracy.
Try it out for yourself!
By following these simple steps, you can easily create and maintain a map that showcases real-time earthquake data. Stay informed and keep your audience engaged with the latest information on seismic activity.
