Chapter 0 of The Nature of Code, Randomness, builds a random walker and shows that its behavior is set by the probability distribution its steps are drawn from. Here the step length is drawn from real earthquake magnitudes rather than a chosen distribution.
USGS weekly magnitudes already have that heavy tail, so I use them as the walker’s step lengths instead of sampling a synthetic Levy distribution.
Earthquake magnitudes follow the Gutenberg-Richter law: the number of events falls exponentially with magnitude, and radiated energy grows exponentially. The walker’s step length is \(\ell = 3\cdot 10^{\,M-2.5}\) (clamped for the canvas), so most steps are short and rare large quakes produce long jumps. That heavy-tailed step distribution is a Levy flight in length, the non-Gaussian case Chapter 0 contrasts with uniform and normal walks.
The Gutenberg-Richter law is \(\log_{10} N = a - bM\), where \(N\) is the number of events of magnitude at least \(M\) and \(b \approx 1\); radiated seismic energy scales as \(E \propto 10^{1.5M}\). Each move advances along a persistent heading that wanders by a small Gaussian nudge, \(\mathbf{x}_{t+1} = \mathbf{x}_t + \ell\,(\cos\theta_t, \sin\theta_t)\) with \(\theta_{t+1} = \theta_t + \varepsilon_t\), \(\varepsilon_t \sim \mathcal{N}(0,\sigma^2)\). The Levy character is in the step lengths, not in independent uniform headings each frame.
Data source: USGS Earthquake Hazards Program
Endpoint:https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/feed/v1.0/summary/2.5_week.geojson
Access: Public, no key. Loaded from an hourly server-side refresh when possible, with a bundled snapshot fallback, and a live browser fetch only when the API allows CORS. Data window: Jul 30, 2026 - Aug 6, 2026 (pulled Aug 6, 2026 UTC)
Hours ago
Longitude
Latitude
Magnitude
2.29
130.72
32.66
4.6
3.19
-126
42.41
4.9
3.43
-152.07
61.9
2.9
3.47
-152.98
59.63
3.8
3.9
-64.48
19.4
3.2
6.23
-75.04
8.74
4.3
6.38
-175.67
-21.06
4.6
6.53
-144.9
63.38
2.9
7.42
-150.83
60.37
3.1
8.73
-156.84
54.77
2.5
8.89
-87.63
11.82
4.1
8.92
-156.85
54.77
3.9
9.91
125.08
5.21
4.6
10.67
-66.78
18.62
2.7
10.71
-122.28
40.42
2.7
10.84
-150.86
61.76
2.8
11.12
176.23
51.83
3.3
12.54
99.47
35.47
4
12.86
94.68
29.03
4.8
13.34
-67.63
18.91
3.1
14.13
130.46
32.45
4.9
14.75
-123.45
40.02
4.4
14.77
-123.45
40.02
3.9
14.92
125.25
5.08
4.9
15.43
125.23
5.13
5.6
16.12
-176.19
-21.52
4.6
16.29
-156.8
54.71
2.8
16.61
-156.77
54.73
2.9
17.34
143.84
-6.52
5.2
19.01
178.55
51.57
3.4
19.69
-67.56
18.85
3.1
20.28
127.45
1.79
5.3
20.34
-117.79
35.32
2.7
20.55
-175.84
50.02
2.7
21.02
-124.92
40.4
2.8
21.92
-149.84
56.15
2.7
22.78
-155.49
20.07
2.8
22.84
126.26
1.29
4.7
25.39
-103.4
31.93
2.5
26.49
176.14
51.82
3.3
27.02
94.68
29
5
27.48
125.25
5.04
4.4
27.81
-65.1
18.88
3.3
27.83
125.25
5.05
4.8
28.2
-152.45
63.55
3.4
28.2
178.36
50.22
3.6
28.2
178.45
50.24
3.3
29.18
-104.41
31.65
2.6
29.39
179.47
-33.81
6.3
30.38
164.08
-49.53
5.2
31.13
125.38
5
5.1
31.17
125.88
5.15
4.9
31.18
-173.39
51.49
2.6
31.18
176.54
52.41
3
31.22
126.14
5.06
4.6
31.32
-117.73
37.59
2.7
31.9
125.2
5.09
4.9
32.55
125
5.04
4.8
32.65
176.34
52.06
3.1
32.7
125.41
5.13
5.2
32.8
-82.47
5.89
5.1
32.83
-104.38
31.64
2.5
32.88
125.28
5.18
6.3
33.44
-76.93
-6.65
4.1
33.76
-113.32
37.57
2.8
33.85
128.93
-6.5
4.9
34.34
156.57
50.5
4.6
35.52
-119.04
39.17
3.3
36.05
-64.77
19.56
3.7
36.69
-123.44
40.03
4
36.7
54.01
27.7
4.2
36.92
94.65
21.9
4.8
37.02
-169.57
63.75
3.3
37.98
-26.79
-55.75
4.6
38.3
-136.7
57.47
2.7
39.83
-122.94
38.79
2.6
39.97
142.3
40.57
4.4
40.21
-122.03
39.59
2.6
40.62
-179.36
-21.8
4.7
40.84
126.49
1.51
5.7
41.17
131.05
30.21
4.8
41.19
-121.14
35.68
2.8
43.6
128.34
-7.6
4.1
44.93
-179.88
-23.89
4.1
45.14
104.76
28.54
4.4
45.27
-156.8
66.25
2.7
45.47
-64.59
18.97
3.4
46.1
176.24
51.87
3.5
46.16
-173.55
51.57
4.3
46.18
-175.23
-24.61
5.1
46.25
-64.11
18.82
3.8
46.66
-67.33
18.36
2.5
46.71
-67.58
18.91
3.5
46.76
-156.43
19.6
2.5
47.11
142.34
38.31
4.6
47.72
-119.93
36.1
2.6
47.77
-119.93
36.09
3.3
49.04
-89.76
36.1
2.6
49.99
-93.28
14.52
4.3
50.79
-65.51
19.12
3.1
51.1
-151.02
62.97
2.6
51.36
-149.17
62.44
3.3
51.56
57.57
28.09
4.1
52.38
-64.92
18.74
3.3
52.43
-68.2
19.53
3.7
53
176.29
51.96
3.3
53.08
-64.93
18.75
2.9
53.28
-64.93
18.72
3.1
54
-93.38
14.32
4.6
55.14
-93.24
14.47
4.3
55.31
-64.66
19.1
3.5
55.38
176.41
52.16
3.4
56.34
140.28
32.95
4.4
56.56
176.2
51.89
3.8
56.91
-122.5
38.68
2.7
57.78
179.94
-24.25
4.4
58.35
-128.28
43.97
4
58.63
-27.29
-57.68
4.4
59.57
-157.22
66.32
2.9
60.82
-66.91
17.97
2.9
61.19
-163.13
52.96
3
61.26
176.34
52.07
3.2
62.02
-166.93
53.05
2.5
62.23
176.25
51.97
4
62.4
176.23
51.91
3.5
62.67
-151.54
59.29
2.8
62.86
56.18
28.06
4.1
63.32
-179.87
51.51
2.6
63.41
157.9
49.23
4.9
64.33
-70.47
-28.75
4.4
64.57
-159.63
54.47
3.3
64.79
176.27
51.89
3.2
64.87
-5.12
32.2
4.7
65.86
-103.48
31.17
2.5
65.96
176.22
51.76
3.8
66.83
-169.31
52.34
3.3
67.84
-98.97
28.85
2.5
68.16
176.35
52.1
3.5
68.51
176.36
52.14
3.4
68.99
-159.62
55.38
3
69.22
143.38
39.7
4.5
70.17
176.31
52
4
70.46
146.85
43.25
4.7
70.66
-139.43
58.9
3.2
70.8
-164.99
53.42
2.5
71.88
156.09
-7.5
4.8
72
-124.79
40.33
2.6
72.44
-163.11
54.72
2.6
72.52
-165.58
53.35
2.5
72.71
-64.8
18.15
3.1
72.81
-64.93
18.74
2.9
72.84
-64.94
18.74
2.9
72.99
-145.37
69.36
2.5
73.67
155.94
49.92
4.9
74.19
-67.14
-24.5
4.6
74.36
-176.68
-17.12
4.9
74.59
-66.75
18.02
2.8
75.8
-93.6
14.01
4.5
75.93
-174.97
51.59
2.6
76.81
-153.14
60
3.6
78.17
-69.12
-20.29
4
78.93
176.24
51.86
3.8
79.61
142.54
42
4.3
80.1
-69.63
19.27
4.5
80.1
104.76
28.69
4.9
80.25
-164.15
53.36
2.5
80.58
-174.4
52.27
3.5
80.62
-109.87
41.56
3.1
80.78
-151.01
63.06
2.5
80.94
-165.09
53.64
2.6
81.27
-118.31
33.92
2.5
81.46
-169.33
52.33
2.6
81.5
-137.17
63.14
2.7
81.74
-124.36
40.3
2.7
81.88
-120.86
35.58
2.7
82.04
176.24
51.96
3.9
83.41
-75.76
-8.57
5.2
83.42
179.66
51.14
3.6
83.52
-177.45
-19.23
4.3
83.8
-64.93
18.76
3.2
84.56
-71.37
46.76
2.7
84.63
-67.56
18.85
3.2
85.09
-64.88
18.45
3.1
85.11
32.63
30.29
5
85.38
-115.86
32.96
3
85.52
159.98
51.16
4.4
86.04
-155.66
20.16
2.5
86.31
125.41
5.41
4.5
86.99
-161.24
67.93
2.8
87
-69.24
-31.36
4.2
87.06
-157.17
56.65
3.5
88.23
-67.67
-27.73
4.3
89.08
147.06
43.07
4.5
90.59
176.27
52
4.3
90.75
104.78
28.67
5
91.91
-77.19
7.65
4.4
91.96
-75.77
-3.11
4.3
92.4
-161.71
55.03
3.4
92.65
176.22
51.93
4.1
92.67
126.39
4.18
4.7
92.96
-85.9
11.58
4.6
93.53
-175.13
-25.04
5
94.29
142.92
42.29
4.8
94.59
99.33
35.39
4.9
94.82
121.21
-8.45
4.6
95.65
-148.73
56.42
3.1
95.94
-111.06
27.37
5.1
96.5
-121.19
36.56
3.6
97.24
-12.18
-3.21
5.3
98.55
-174.94
-23.74
5.3
99.12
130.69
32.4
4.6
99.83
-12.24
-3.29
5
100.02
-158.65
56.43
3.6
100.29
-67.04
-24.23
4.6
100.53
178.33
-37.73
5.6
100.75
156.2
49.33
4.9
100.8
176.34
52.1
3.9
102.14
-151.69
60.62
3.4
102.61
-155.23
18.84
2.7
103.12
-67.2
18.26
3.2
103.47
143.59
-6.47
4.9
103.81
-173.48
51.66
4.8
104.81
-64.93
18.73
3.2
105.84
-68.69
10.53
4.5
105.84
-64.93
18.75
2.6
105.86
91.47
33.53
4.2
106.99
-64.93
18.77
2.9
107.47
-64.34
19.04
3.3
107.5
56.62
27.64
4.2
107.55
-64.94
18.72
3.1
107.76
-72.06
-33.53
4.4
108.36
142.53
40.3
4.8
108.38
-155.53
18.77
2.8
108.42
-64.93
18.78
3
108.49
-66.94
18.17
2.7
108.89
155.17
49.87
5.2
109.13
-173.88
51.76
3.3
109.45
-92.7
15.1
4.2
109.53
-93.41
14.5
4.4
109.74
-93.03
14.42
4.3
109.92
-64.91
18.77
2.5
110
-173.56
51.56
4.9
110.14
-118.3
37.27
2.8
110.18
179.78
51.1
2.7
110.62
-178
-20.19
4.4
111.44
-154.94
20.03
2.5
111.68
138.94
-2.61
4.5
112.45
-152.28
60.21
2.6
112.49
-64.94
18.78
3.4
112.98
-64.93
18.75
3
112.98
176.18
51.8
3.3
113.07
155.33
49.32
5.2
113.1
176.2
51.85
3.7
113.11
-64.92
18.79
4.1
113.58
-176.98
51.48
3.1
113.94
132
32.01
5.2
114.6
-150.91
60.79
2.6
116.27
-116.32
33.98
3.2
116.52
176.24
51.89
3.7
116.98
-160.18
54.49
2.5
117
130.46
32.45
4.6
117.26
-176.8
-24.39
5.1
117.54
-159.85
54.49
2.5
118.53
129.7
-6.75
4.2
118.89
-165.57
53.19
2.9
118.91
-160.31
55.18
2.7
120.33
130.63
32.65
4.9
121.27
-122.94
38.78
2.7
121.48
-151.71
61.68
3
121.5
-148.31
62.49
2.7
121.53
-122.95
38.77
2.8
122
-15.96
-39.53
5.1
122.83
-176.99
51.17
2.5
122.85
-101.68
31.73
2.8
122.91
-101.68
31.72
2.7
123.28
-15.98
-39.69
5.1
124.54
-165.93
52.21
3.1
124.75
-93.26
14.34
4.6
124.85
-179.91
51.03
2.6
125.16
-122.94
38.78
3.7
125.27
-68.45
-21.41
4.4
125.35
-179.13
-22.38
5.1
126.08
133.15
53.59
4.3
126.2
176.19
51.84
3.6
126.31
154.77
48.38
4.4
126.47
-65.71
19.41
3.3
127.09
142.56
24.3
4.4
127.67
178.87
51.66
3.1
127.95
-65.07
18.99
3.3
128.28
-173.02
52.69
2.9
128.28
-179.56
-23.74
4.5
128.3
-129.43
49.6
5.6
128.36
176.31
51.94
3
129.4
124.93
5.64
4.6
129.72
167.37
-45.1
4.8
130.32
141.9
41.35
5.5
130.84
-83.8
9.75
4.3
131.62
99.43
35.48
4.7
131.72
39.2
18.88
4.6
132.19
-151.63
63.26
2.5
133.34
-168.01
52.23
3
133.35
-167.91
52.3
3.1
133.52
126.15
10.74
4.5
133.81
-165.48
52.29
2.6
133.82
130.12
-3
5.1
133.85
130.29
-2.9
5.1
134.12
-178.95
51.73
2.5
134.12
-178.96
51.84
2.5
134.81
130.35
-2.94
4.1
135.09
143.28
39.22
4.1
135.65
-173.45
51.81
3.6
135.71
101.29
23.19
4.5
135.72
126.27
4.89
4.4
135.94
130.21
-2.91
4.4
136.13
-93.44
14.2
4.4
136.58
-178.83
-26.79
4.4
136.63
130.1
-2.91
4.6
136.67
69.79
37.82
4.4
136.79
130.16
-2.88
5.3
136.95
-116.96
33.35
3
137.07
-121.45
36.97
2.9
137.16
-93.02
15.07
4.3
138.15
-25.29
-58.71
5.1
138.19
-65.4
46.89
3.1
138.6
-166.92
53.04
2.6
138.75
-175.89
51.54
2.5
138.87
-122.26
46.02
2.6
139.33
-72.12
-29.87
5
139.34
14.17
40.88
4.5
139.86
-161.53
54.37
3.4
140.25
179.61
51.21
2.7
140.85
-93.23
14.6
5.2
141.03
-150.9
60.51
2.5
141.05
-90.96
1.53
4.7
142.36
-150.67
63.64
2.7
143.4
-173.32
51.37
3.1
143.52
-155.74
57.17
3.2
144.14
128.03
28.2
4.6
144.54
-151.54
63.11
2.5
144.98
-162.83
54.08
2.6
145.96
174.48
-41
4.5
146.33
-150.46
57.98
2.9
147.14
-159.71
54.53
3
147.37
66.9
36.51
4.3
147.45
-93.26
14
4.4
147.97
53.93
36.24
4.6
148.21
-163.47
53.05
2.9
148.48
-179.46
-31.16
4.1
148.59
93.23
4.14
4.9
148.69
-125.18
40.33
2.5
148.93
119.93
20.8
4.3
149.08
-173.45
51.45
3.5
149.57
-177.49
-19.33
4.4
150.25
-122.79
39.3
2.7
150.61
-176.55
-29.41
5
151.35
-125.54
51
4.1
151.86
-173.78
51.86
2.6
152.29
44.56
35.41
4.1
152.83
-178.42
-28.73
4.6
153.07
-176.73
-28.39
5
153.54
-162.64
52.52
3.1
153.76
179.59
52.03
2.6
154.76
-114.83
37.12
2.7
154.99
-176.96
-28.56
4.6
155.95
-80.95
-0.62
4.3
156.14
-74.44
-8.33
5.6
158.02
-159.64
54.47
2.6
158.7
159.78
53.09
4.7
159.23
159.64
53.07
5.1
159.58
-66.84
17.96
2.5
160.57
-159.84
55.94
2.5
160.67
-176.57
-28.55
5
160.88
99.45
35.47
4.4
161.48
-175.15
51.5
3
162.77
-92.83
14.43
4.9
162.93
129.06
-5.4
4.5
163.18
139
11.58
5.9
163.31
-177.97
-31.32
5.2
164.14
121.42
23.1
4.5
164.77
142.36
40.22
4.3
165.29
-66.91
-24.18
4.2
165.54
-118.84
37.5
3.4
166.14
44.53
35.34
4.2
166.49
138.89
-2.7
4.4
166.54
-165.95
52.13
2.9
166.72
130.74
-3.17
4.3
167.04
-121.46
36.97
2.8
167.32
130.64
32.69
5
167.88
126.16
-7.24
4.2
All 389 earthquakes are listed below.