

Why wasn’t the Russia mega earthquake as damaging as previous ones?
15 snips Aug 28, 2025
Gareth Mitchell, a technology broadcaster, dives into a range of intriguing topics this week. He discusses the recent 8.8 magnitude earthquake near Russia that, surprisingly, caused no casualties, thanks to advancements in monitoring and forecasting systems. The episode also highlights how data analytics and AI are transforming sports performance, with insights from experts. Additionally, there's a fascinating exploration of what studying primate alcohol consumption reveals about human evolution, blending science with our quirky behaviors.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Magnitude And Rupture Depth Control Tsunami Size
- Magnitude differences of 8.8 versus 9+ greatly change tsunami risk due to fault area and movement.
- Ruptures that reach the seafloor produce much larger tsunamis than deeper ruptures.
What 'Mega Earthquake' Means
- Megathrust earthquakes are classified as magnitude 8.5 or greater and are very rare.
- An 8.8 quake ranks among the largest recorded since 1900 and remains a serious event.
Err On The Side Of Conservative Warnings
- Use conservative tsunami warnings because large quakes are rare and initial forecasts have uncertainties.
- Rely on rapid seismometer and ocean-sensor networks to refine alerts as waves are detected.