Uploaded September 2019 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Whereas transform-fault and shallow-crustal-intraplate earthquakes have dominated the recent history of deadly and destructive earthquakes in Central America, we should never underestimate the potential destructive power of subduction zone earthquakes. Since 1970, there have been 13 major magnitude 7 earthquakes on or near the megathrust plate boundary, but no historic magnitude 8 or larger. The Sumatra 2004 and Japan 2011 magnitude 9 earthquakes and resulting tsunamis delivered the lesson that many centuries may pass between great subduction zone earthquakes. We do not know whether or when a great magnitude 8 or 9 subduction zone earthquake may occur on the Cocos – Caribbean plate boundary.
Written and directed by Dr. Robert Butler, University of Portland,
Narrated by Dr. Wendy Bohon, IRIS
Animated by Jenda Johnson, Earth Sciences Animated
Reviewed by Reviewed by Dr. Ross Stein, CEO & Cofounder, Temblor, Inc. temblor.net/team/ross-stein
Whereas transform-fault and shallow-crustal-intraplate earthquakes have dominated the recent history of deadly and destructive earthquakes in Central America, we should never underestimate the potential destructive power of subduction zone earthquakes. Since 1970, there have been 13 major magnitude 7 earthquakes on or near the megathrust plate boundary, but no historic magnitude 8 or larger. The Sumatra 2004 and Japan 2011 magnitude 9 earthquakes and resulting tsunamis delivered the lesson that many centuries may pass between great subduction zone earthquakes. We do not know whether or when a great magnitude 8 or 9 subduction zone earthquake may occur on the Cocos – Caribbean plate boundary.
Written and directed by Dr. Robert Butler, University of Portland,
Narrated by Dr. Wendy Bohon, IRIS
Animated by Jenda Johnson, Earth Sciences Animated
Reviewed by Reviewed by Dr. Ross Stein, CEO & Cofounder, Temblor, Inc. temblor.net/team/ross-stein
![M7.2 Haiti Earthquake, August 14, 2021 [Tectonic setting extracted from 2 IRIS animations]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xzKQLmdAodA/mqdefault.jpg "M7.2 Haiti Earthquake, August 14, 2021 [Tectonic setting extracted from 2 IRIS animations]
Animation made to accompany the Recent Earthquake Teachable Moment PowerPoint presentation here: https://www.iris.edu/hq/retm/event/7042
This animation is a composite of TWO separate IRIS animations:
2010 Haiti Earthquake—10-yrs later: www.iris.edu/hq/inclass/animation/650
and
Hispaniola Tectonics & Earthquakes: www.iris.edu/hq/inclass/animation/714")
