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: Sep 9, 2026 - Sep 16, 2026 (pulled Sep 16, 2026 UTC)

Latest data pull 357 rows
Sep 9, 2026 - Sep 16, 2026 (pulled Sep 16, 2026 UTC)
Hours ago
Longitude
Latitude
Magnitude
0.04
-146.76
61.5
2.5
0.31
140.02
36.06
5
0.86
-124.57
40.3
3.7
1.95
-66.09
19.31
3.2
2.88
40.13
9.02
4.5
3.6
127.13
7.75
4.9
5.74
167.02
-15.07
4.7
6.82
147.11
14.39
5.1
7.86
-150.65
62.55
3.3
8.15
-119.59
40.61
4.1
8.4
-77.81
6.1
4.8
9.14
-76.78
4.5
4.6
9.57
95.5
37.71
5
11.69
-92.45
14.03
5
13.28
-67.43
18.33
2.9
13.76
-122.67
38.43
2.7
13.82
-69.28
10.68
4.5
15.19
-152.47
59.78
2.7
15.34
-65.56
19.07
3.3
15.65
50.76
13.43
4.7
15.69
-78.09
-1.62
4.5
17.61
178.91
51.47
3.7
18.27
-106.78
34.49
2.7
18.43
123.62
25.04
4.7
20.04
-112.9
38.52
2.6
21
120.44
-8.2
4.3
21.75
-66.49
-25.46
4.5
22.16
123.67
25.03
4.3
22.98
-104.11
31.62
2.6
23.22
102.08
-4.26
4.5
23.27
-178.8
51.36
3.4
24.3
-152.76
59.97
2.5
24.89
-156.49
56.2
4
25.17
129.28
-8.32
4.5
25.6
-66.05
-18.1
4.2
26.19
-167.51
52.81
2.5
26.26
-137.38
58.06
3.4
26.3
-104.55
31.74
2.5
27
-178.36
-18.14
4.2
27.6
-177.92
51.25
3.1
27.85
155.38
-7.4
4.7
28.66
-155.5
19.19
2.6
29.41
-144.17
69.5
2.5
29.58
-144.23
69.54
4.3
29.92
-125.62
48.76
3.2
30.63
-104.13
31.66
3.3
30.65
-179.86
51.02
2.7
30.72
-169.23
52.09
2.9
31.6
-148.68
68.61
2.6
32.14
-124.49
40.29
3.3
32.3
-175.35
51.89
2.5
33.07
-67
17.97
2.9
33.31
130.34
-6.63
4.8
34.08
-167.03
53.1
4
34.56
170.09
-21.58
4.8
34.89
-109.87
41.57
3.4
35.69
-64.74
18.26
3.4
35.83
-124.01
40.56
2.6
37.13
177.93
50.27
3.4
37.75
-177.9
50.96
3
37.97
-178.64
49.93
3.1
38.84
-176.12
51.49
2.5
39.56
176.42
-16.71
4.8
40.27
105.4
-8.87
4.4
40.57
-169.31
51.97
2.7
40.69
174.14
-40.33
4.9
40.72
-93.29
14.63
4.2
40.79
-76.82
4.49
4.6
41.32
146.53
-6.31
5
42.03
179.51
51.44
2.9
42.18
-66.72
18.61
3
42.22
-76.88
4.55
4.9
42.79
-104.44
15.09
5.3
42.91
-178.58
51.06
2.5
43.3
-76.77
4.45
4.6
43.4
-76.74
4.49
4.9
43.7
-68.24
19.09
3.2
44.13
179.79
51.06
2.9
44.16
-77.36
-3.73
4.8
45.52
128.12
-1.89
4.6
47.19
157.74
-8.95
5.2
47.36
179.49
51.01
2.7
48.48
-76.7
4.56
4.5
49.24
-119.58
40.61
3.3
49.65
-121.81
37.87
3
51.68
-178.52
-17.9
4.2
51.9
-164.33
52.62
2.9
52
-154.16
56.2
3
52.19
-153.42
59.82
2.7
52.44
141.53
37.61
4.6
52.47
128.17
2.42
5.6
52.95
-164.68
53.32
3.3
53.98
105.87
-8.54
5.5
54.31
101.41
23.3
4.5
55.89
142.24
37.19
4.5
57
-98.05
35.61
2.6
57.12
144.61
-5.06
4.5
57.47
-149.41
60.66
2.5
58.06
-66.83
17.83
2.5
58.38
-67
-24.13
4.4
58.79
-176.39
51.18
2.6
59.68
179.33
51.5
2.5
60.5
-45.38
25.54
5.4
61.74
112.9
-9.28
4.8
61.79
58.73
35.66
4.3
62.54
120.31
-8.13
4.6
62.7
-122.24
37.43
2.5
63.75
-179.62
-23.51
4.4
64.69
121.6
22.74
4.6
64.77
120.38
-8.16
5.1
65.34
-121.8
37.87
2.6
65.48
-174.01
50.31
2.9
66.83
-67.06
17.96
2.5
67.74
168.83
-20.2
4.9
67.76
-66.58
-26.16
4.7
68.08
121.4
23.6
4.2
69.09
-155.49
19.17
2.7
69.43
-155.48
19.16
4
69.51
-73.05
6.85
4.3
69.93
-119.06
39.31
2.6
71.25
-67.3
18.87
3.4
71.46
-178.45
-17.82
4.3
73.33
-65.26
19.41
3.2
73.51
-123.29
39.42
2.5
73.78
-152.21
60.79
2.8
73.88
-119.05
39.31
2.7
74.83
-72.55
-33.33
3.9
75.51
-159.87
56.07
2.5
76.44
-65.3
19.56
3.5
77.1
-104.43
31.66
3.4
77.39
-145.64
65.78
3.4
77.39
-178.04
51.04
3.5
78.78
-163.2
53.51
3
78.92
141.27
41.51
4.7
79.93
171.35
-22.23
5
80.12
167.44
-15.22
5.2
80.53
-104.43
31.66
2.9
83.6
142.25
26.3
4.9
83.65
-118.74
33.77
2.6
83.87
-64.34
18.88
3.4
84.04
-65.34
19.51
3.4
84.04
-65.25
19.59
3.6
84.44
-65.3
18.84
3.5
85.29
-178.53
51.22
3.9
86.46
-104.34
31.75
2.9
86.98
136.46
34.09
4.1
88.41
-65.33
19.77
3.4
88.56
-112.9
38.51
3.1
88.76
166.08
-10.79
4.3
89.2
152.34
-3.4
4.3
90.52
-65.27
19.58
3.4
90.89
130.38
29.32
5.1
92.14
-146.12
61.29
3.5
92.28
-157.23
53.96
2.8
92.32
-179.18
50.79
2.5
92.78
-122.76
38.82
2.9
93
-178.88
49.49
2.9
93.16
-169.34
52.14
3.4
93.58
20.26
38.14
4.8
94.02
-173.2
52.19
2.6
94.58
-64.59
18.97
3.6
95.36
-70.37
-17.27
4.3
95.5
167.21
-14.71
4.5
96.08
-173.35
51.79
3.4
96.3
177.07
50.12
2.9
96.44
122.44
14.41
4
96.9
154.85
-5.46
4.4
98
-152.53
59.99
2.9
99.64
-67.73
19.45
3.6
99.9
-118.3
33.94
2.7
100.17
-76.81
4.41
4.7
100.2
-118.06
33.26
3.3
100.24
-118.07
33.25
3
100.34
-26.75
-56.3
4.9
100.38
-118.07
33.24
2.5
101.2
-167.1
53.17
3.6
101.56
-66.81
17.98
2.6
101.8
-155.27
19.39
2.6
101.84
166.34
-13.28
4.9
102.46
-67.73
19.01
3.5
102.66
-76.22
-14.49
4.5
103.15
-92.48
14.07
4.2
103.59
-176.09
50.99
2.7
103.6
-176.11
51.02
2.6
103.64
-172.82
51.62
2.7
103.71
-172.56
51.85
2.9
103.86
-118.3
33.93
2.6
104.01
-121.8
37.87
3.4
104.06
-172.58
51.83
3.1
104.16
-176.44
51.46
3.2
104.68
-64.58
18.95
3.5
104.7
-113.58
45.64
2.7
104.8
-149.05
62.83
3.9
104.99
-157.27
53.9
2.8
105.2
130.51
-6.09
4.8
105.66
-119.26
34.39
2.5
106.01
-109.81
41.75
3.8
106.3
-153.29
59.83
2.9
106.3
126.59
1.07
4.7
106.37
-169.86
51.37
2.9
106.65
-173.11
50.31
3.1
106.8
-168.47
52.2
2.6
106.98
-157.18
53.93
3.3
107.14
-122.3
48.42
2.6
107.42
-65.55
19.65
3.6
107.71
-178.46
51.13
3.5
107.86
120.68
-8.26
4.6
108.65
-64.89
19.27
3.4
108.71
-64.91
18.93
3.5
108.73
-124.5
40.19
2.5
109.44
-82.79
8.35
4.7
109.56
-115.18
44.35
3.2
110.52
-24.93
-59.13
5.1
110.96
-149.63
60.72
2.7
111.07
-103.29
32.27
2.6
111.12
-73.88
-15.61
4.5
111.98
-96.65
35.8
2.9
112.61
-139.98
60.57
2.9
112.9
-75.82
-45.72
4.9
113.75
-178.39
51.08
2.6
113.91
-92.92
14.39
4
114.04
106.87
-4.98
6.5
114.49
-73.2
18.97
4.1
115.63
-152.78
56.31
2.5
115.74
-152.77
56.16
2.6
116.15
-152.97
56.29
3.2
116.16
178.72
51.5
2.6
116.2
-156.97
53.9
3.3
116.23
-179.52
51.02
2.6
116.44
143.23
13
4.4
116.55
143.37
40.13
4.4
116.84
179.85
51.27
2.7
117.02
-169.36
52.13
3.2
117.28
-178.44
51.14
2.5
117.34
-162.6
54.61
3.1
117.5
96.64
26.38
4.2
118.73
-76.83
4.42
4.7
119.26
-169.3
52.1
2.6
119.47
-155.37
19.2
2.6
119.69
-178.93
-32.6
4.9
121.2
-178.41
51.08
2.7
121.34
-179.12
51.6
2.6
122.35
-179.37
50.97
2.8
123.33
-178.49
51.13
2.5
123.5
128.94
-7.29
5.9
123.76
-178.4
51.06
2.5
123.76
-65.4
19.25
3.4
124.21
-178.43
51.11
2.5
124.25
-178.26
51.19
2.5
124.32
-178.4
51.07
2.7
124.5
-178.49
51.08
3.1
124.56
-178.43
51.11
4.3
124.57
-178.44
51.09
3.1
124.65
-178.54
51.21
5.3
125.11
-117.99
34.91
2.6
125.67
-179.55
50.91
2.9
126.44
4.47
79.57
4.4
126.71
-174.76
50.76
2.9
126.78
-162.97
53.93
2.5
127.23
-65.27
19.33
3.8
127.73
-163.01
53.92
2.9
127.91
-163.16
54.03
4.5
127.94
-169.36
52
2.7
128.03
123.55
-0.25
4.3
128.04
-169.31
51.97
2.7
128.26
-147.83
62.17
4
128.32
-144.22
69.51
2.5
128.36
-69.41
-19.7
4.1
129.08
-169.17
52.17
2.9
129.69
-92.94
13.93
4.2
129.74
-178.38
51.47
2.8
129.93
-148.84
56.68
2.9
131.22
-165.02
53.15
2.5
131.4
-175.46
50.59
2.9
131.51
-163.44
53.1
2.8
132.49
-152.6
58.99
2.9
132.54
-169.19
52.1
3.4
132.63
-177.36
51.17
2.8
132.97
169.4
-18.93
4.9
133.14
-177.46
51.15
2.5
134.54
120.3
-0.33
4.4
135.53
-162.87
55
2.6
135.99
-159.9
54.24
2.5
136.38
-122.76
38.79
2.5
136.38
-166.72
65.21
4
136.53
167.33
-13.32
4.9
137.79
-161.84
53.81
2.6
138.02
-150.5
63.25
2.7
138.2
178.58
51.68
4
138.83
-122.83
38.86
3.2
138.83
-122.83
38.85
3
140.69
127.75
-8.59
5.3
141.08
-109.15
-34.83
5.4
141.29
35.35
33.33
4.1
142.52
-163.17
53.48
2.9
142.55
103.07
27.15
4.7
143.1
-169.32
52.29
2.7
143.29
-64.84
18.84
2.9
144.01
-156.54
56.25
2.6
144.6
179.97
51.7
2.6
144.84
-168.74
52.04
2.6
145.17
-90.61
1.7
4.7
145.65
-174.47
51.58
2.8
145.95
-92.88
14.1
4.5
145.97
143.87
12.03
5.1
146.28
168.3
-44.49
4.3
146.65
-177.84
51.22
2.5
147.34
-65.83
-17.89
4.8
147.45
-159.65
54.47
2.5
148.78
-77.36
-3.97
4.7
149.06
-168.81
52.11
2.7
149.63
-64.3
18.49
3.2
149.72
-98.94
28.68
3.1
150.45
-153.43
57.86
2.5
150.99
-84.06
9.03
5
152.07
179.58
51.94
2.8
152.33
-149.65
56.27
3.1
152.6
-148.56
56.77
3.2
152.61
-163.71
53.78
2.7
152.73
-77.5
-3.87
5.3
153.29
-93.16
14.13
4.4
154.14
-147.74
62.51
4.2
154.26
-165.24
53.67
2.7
154.33
-175.74
51.47
2.5
155.19
-179.1
51.34
2.5
156.56
-122.21
37.78
2.5
156.94
-169.13
51.98
2.5
157.07
-151.41
63.51
3.6
157.48
-69.25
-21
4.3
158.02
-124.53
40.29
3.6
158.04
-124.52
40.29
3.8
159.18
-104.41
31.64
3
159.61
-173.55
51.57
2.6
159.99
178.83
51.62
2.5
161.41
-151.4
60.33
2.7
161.79
-156.51
56.19
2.8
161.94
74.25
-28.59
4.8
162.3
-93.02
14.3
4.3
163.08
169.7
-20.97
4.7
163.15
70.66
38.99
4.6
163.41
-158.9
56.35
2.7
164
51.54
28.13
4.3
164.18
170.05
-19.75
4.9
164.24
-122.85
38.86
2.7
164.41
-64.58
18.95
3.1
164.63
-178.46
51.07
3.2
164.85
-150.66
61.25
2.9
165.12
-178.09
-20.65
4.6
165.39
71.4
36.44
4.4
165.82
-177.89
49.94
2.5
165.87
-175.99
51.3
2.5
166.05
-155.38
19.05
2.6
166.11
-122.85
38.86
2.6
166.13
170.07
-19.78
5.1
166.41
169.96
-19.83
5.2
167.43
-104.5
32.32
2.5
167.59
-179.32
50.39
2.6

All 357 earthquakes are listed below.