how large of an earth quake would it take to wipe out the hawaiian islands?

Answer 1

The largest earthquake that is possible in Hawai'i (about an 8)would not 'wipe out' the islands. So, I guess the answer is 12, which would destroy the earth.

Earthquake size is related to the area that slips, so a large earthake needs a big fault. There is not a fault in Hawai'i that is big enough to make a earthquake much bigger than 8.

By the way, the largest earthquake was in Chile, in 1960, a 9.5.

Answer 2

Well you see Hawaii can really can oly have and 8.0 in it's worst case, which is hugely unlikely. The 6.6 is believed to be caused by volcanic activity, if there were a slight earthquake and a huge portion of the volcano decides to become a landslide, it will be a huge tsunami (a landslide caused a landslide 500 feet taller than Empire state building) and basicially wipe out the Hawaiin islands. If we forget about all that, I would say a 11.0, which has never happened and also destroy a ton of the Earth. The places that should be more worring about themselves are Alaska , California , Chile (biggest earthquake ever at 9.3), Idonesia, and Japan. Which all most all are expected for an 8.0 or above.

Answer 3

Well, according to Mattew Harold Sandersson, Ph.D of Berkley University 1990, when the San Francisco Earthquake struck California in the early 1900s, its magnitude was roughly 7.5 rht. This completely wiped the land surfaces clean.

Since Hawaii was formed from an undersea volcano which brought the islands up from approximately a depth of 1700 feet to 2400 feet at the time, the seabed is always going to be unstable. Volcanoes and earthuakes go hand-in-hand. Given the fact that they both have the same physical and internal characteristics. Since Hawaii sits between many ridges and faults throughout the eastern Pacific Ocean, it is not uncommon for this island to experience minor tremors every now and again.

It has been determined by several university professors and seismologists throughout the nation that it would require a quake between 8.9 and 10.5 on the Richter Scale to completely demolish the islands of Hawaii. This said, it is quite seldom that earthquakes of this magnitude ever strike without warning. usually, scientists can decipher through smaller earthquakes when a larger one is bound to occur. Not to mention the fact that quakes of this size are rare to begin with. Not even in the Ring of Fire near India have quakes over the past decade ever reached magnitudes of this strength.

Answer 4

The Hawaiian islands will not be wiped out by any earthquake. The volcanic activity of the islands adds tons of land to the islands each year. On the other hand, California should be concerned.

Answer 5

i'm in Calif and that's a place the place there are quakes. yet each time we are happy it fairly is over. i'm in southern Calif. so the quakes come each so frequently. I felt one the different day it became a speedy jolt like it became a chop up 2d and it became long previous. I knew it became a quake. San Francisco has the worst ones they have streets open up with holes. it is so frightening. in all probability because of the fact their streets are so steep. no the place have they lots of steep straigh up hills. (((Brendan))) nicely it incredibly is the final days Jesus mentioned their may be earthquakes in diverse places.

Answer 6

"Wipe out"? Like sink all the islands into the sea? NO earthquake can completely "wipe out" a landscape. It can cause great harm to people and civilization, but the landscape remains.

Answer 7

If you mean directly then it would have to be one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded.

[Incidentally, anyone who says the scale stops at 8 should speak to the US Geological Survey which states on their website (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learning/fact...
"The largest recorded earthquake in the United States was a magnitude 9.2 that struck Prince William Sound, Alaska on Good Friday, March 28, 1964 UTC" ]

However indirect destruction may result from a comparatively minor eathquake. Examination of sedimentary deposits in places like Japan have indicated that from time to time the Japanese east coast has been struck by tsunamis over a kilometre high. These are believed to have originated in the western USA when large chunks of mountain in the Cascade Range were displaced by earthquakes and slid into the sea - causing enormous tidal waves. Such a tsunami would no doubt have a devastaing effect on Hawaii and may be triggered by relatively minor earthquakes.

Answer 8

12.6 or higher. The big island is actually the world's largest mountain, with peaks above the ocean rising nearly 14,000 feet. It would take a massive quake to destroy this, and would likely destroy most oceanside cities and towns around the world through the tsunami that would result.
They have earthquakes all the time, just not as strong as the one yesterday.

Answer 9

can't b/c the hawaiian islands have mountains ... and is above sea level, it will only harm as big as the wave would be if there were a tsunami

Answer 10

Something larger than 6.6!