Southern California Earthquake Data Center (SCEDC)
The Southern California Earthquake Data Center (SCEDC) at Caltech is a critical resource for seismological research and earthquake monitoring in Southern California. Operated as a cooperative project between Caltech and the USGS, SCEDC archives and provides access to comprehensive earthquake catalogs and seismic data collected by the Southern California Seismic Network (SCSN) from 1932 to the present.
Key Features
- Earthquake Catalogs: Searchable database of seismic events with detailed parameters such as location, magnitude, depth, and time.
- Data Access: Offers various web services, waveform data, station metadata, and special datasets for deep learning and research.
- Interactive Tools: Features tools like polygon and radius search for customized data queries, and output formats including KML for Google Earth.
- Educational Resources: Provides information on earthquake preparedness, significant earthquakes, and fault maps for public and academic use.
Use Cases
- Research: Essential for seismologists and geophysicists studying regional seismicity and fault dynamics.
- Education: Supports academic institutions with data for teaching and student projects on earthquake science.
- Public Safety: Assists in earthquake preparedness and risk assessment for Southern California communities.
SCEDC stands out for its long-term data curation, user-friendly search interfaces, and integration with modern mapping tools, making it a vital hub for both scientific and public use.
