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: Oct 20, 2026 - Oct 27, 2026 (pulled Oct 27, 2026 UTC)

Latest data pull 367 rows
Oct 20, 2026 - Oct 27, 2026 (pulled Oct 27, 2026 UTC)
Hours ago
Longitude
Latitude
Magnitude
0.85
-151.3
60.98
2.8
1.22
-179.74
-23.75
5
1.32
-81.58
7.71
5
1.73
-104.31
31.63
2.5
2.02
110.33
-9.12
5.4
2.03
110.3
-9.37
4.9
3.87
145.89
-38.37
3.5
4.73
-93.82
16.4
4.6
4.98
-98.96
28.9
2.5
5.06
-66.66
-23.18
4.6
5.57
-64.94
18.62
3.1
5.91
165.65
-14.01
5.2
6.01
-165.53
52.9
2.7
6.64
165.79
-13.94
5
7.4
165.56
-13.9
5
7.5
-64.59
18.88
2.8
7.62
-173.41
-15.17
5
7.83
165.67
-13.91
5.8
7.92
-148.36
56.95
2.8
10.04
-157.11
56.22
2.5
12.83
-78.89
-2.77
4.1
13.47
-65.8
18.87
3
14.7
161.32
-10.67
4.9
14.8
-67.6
18.2
3.3
15.45
140.71
33.28
4.6
16.33
141.63
37.39
4.8
17.88
127.74
2.58
4.5
18.19
46.08
-12.43
4.5
19.45
138.53
-36.46
4.7
19.88
-71.3
-32.28
4.6
19.96
-103.78
28.94
3
20.06
126.54
5.64
4.5
20.57
-148.82
56.06
3.3
21.12
-103.72
32.07
2.6
21.15
-68.69
-20.34
4.9
22.63
71.08
38.64
4.5
25.61
165.92
-14.21
4.6
26.7
-141.32
61.64
2.8
27.42
25.95
35.03
4.4
27.57
-121.61
36.86
2.5
28.52
165.6
-13.86
5.2
29.11
-165.12
53.51
4.6
29.45
165.39
-13.94
5
29.72
-27.71
-59.81
4.8
30.24
-177.98
-18.32
4.3
30.53
-178.01
-18.28
5.5
30.6
-104.4
31.65
2.6
32.57
147.93
44.72
4.5
32.95
77.93
40.29
4.5
34.34
173.78
-41.65
4.3
34.99
67.99
25.84
4.3
35.32
-68.19
-31.67
4.4
35.86
121.57
-8.44
5
35.86
165.7
-14.07
4.8
36.32
-76.87
4.32
4.3
36.54
141.93
40.56
4.2
36.76
123.25
-10.04
4.8
37.05
-66.08
19.07
3
39.38
165.58
-13.88
4.9
39.82
-72.17
-33.06
4.2
41.21
124.34
-7.21
4.3
42.48
139.73
27.85
4.8
42.51
139.69
27.86
5.3
42.72
93.63
32.23
4.7
43.46
-64.42
18.85
3.3
44.15
-107.83
39.88
2.8
44.24
165.77
-14.21
4.8
44.84
-97.03
29.45
2.7
45.31
130.39
-6.17
4.4
46.92
-178.81
52.19
4.6
47.01
71.1
36.27
5.2
47.55
-73.47
-16.1
4.7
47.97
93.84
32.5
4.5
48.32
165.36
-13.93
4.6
48.57
-64.46
18.17
3.1
50.22
-138.93
59.08
2.7
50.49
-120.68
48.31
2.6
50.66
-112.91
38.52
2.5
50.84
179.9
-24.63
4.6
51.36
-67.86
-23.09
4.3
51.37
-108.37
26.6
4
52.6
126.15
0.13
4.6
53.32
94.05
32.46
5.9
53.35
93.89
32.37
5.1
53.82
-64
18.12
3.4
54.2
-140.45
56.58
2.9
54.24
143.08
-4.36
5.4
54.43
118.41
-8.01
4.4
54.47
-151.93
55.69
2.7
55.11
-108.78
44.87
2.5
55.56
142.97
22.55
4.6
56.07
165.58
-13.88
5.4
56.98
-151.91
60.48
2.9
56.99
-165.19
53.49
4.3
57.01
-165.16
53.49
4.6
57.55
-74.75
-16.07
4.6
57.6
-145.1
63.36
2.5
58.68
141.84
37.85
4.5
59.49
21.01
37.65
4.9
59.56
-65.11
18.96
3.1
59.78
-65.13
19
2.8
59.89
-65.14
18.9
3.4
60.07
-65.19
18.89
3.2
60.16
-65.09
18.85
3.2
61.26
147.17
-6.17
5.2
61.95
139.73
27.88
4.2
62.14
139.74
27.69
4.8
62.35
167.3
-15
6.1
62.59
139.62
27.8
6.5
62.65
165.7
-14.45
5.1
62.98
165.69
-14.38
5.1
63.16
-116.57
35.79
2.7
64.76
131.87
31.82
5.3
65
165.73
-13.9
5
65.1
165.6
-13.89
4.8
65.96
165.53
-13.87
5
66.16
-149.24
62.94
3.3
66.32
-126.87
41.89
3.9
67.05
132.25
-0.36
4.9
67.63
-67.42
18.91
3.2
67.8
-80.35
-4.09
4.1
68.1
-122.8
38.83
2.5
68.17
159.2
52.16
5.3
69.18
88.4
28.76
4.3
69.44
168.79
-20.02
4.9
69.63
165.66
-13.97
5
70.05
-118.83
37.46
2.5
70.77
-112.92
38.52
2.6
70.92
-126.65
41.82
2.8
71.51
-68.97
-21.3
4.2
71.85
165.94
-14.21
4.8
72.84
-144.49
69.02
2.7
72.99
165.17
-13.94
4.7
73.34
7.01
-54.03
5.8
73.43
165.46
-13.85
4.9
73.62
165.51
-13.83
4.8
74.87
165.54
-13.78
4.8
75.31
93.69
32.56
4.6
76.95
122.09
19.81
4.7
77.24
-77.78
-1.63
4.2
77.41
51.51
13.32
4.9
77.52
165.73
-13.82
4.9
77.84
-118.83
37.45
2.9
78.41
-149.8
64.39
2.5
78.48
94.46
22.95
4.4
79.1
165.8
-14.13
4.9
79.63
165.28
-14.11
5
79.81
165.65
-13.94
5.9
79.98
165.71
-13.99
4.7
80.09
94.05
32.56
5.3
80.19
-165.1
53.52
4.5
80.26
82.11
43.31
4.9
80.28
165.61
-13.8
5.1
80.37
165.47
-13.83
5.1
80.42
165.45
-13.8
4.7
81.23
-92.8
14.16
4.4
81.78
165.73
-13.85
4.7
81.88
165.42
-13.88
5
81.92
-65.23
18.06
3.3
82.03
167.31
-14.59
5.5
82.4
165.62
-13.82
4.6
82.68
165.75
-14.13
5.3
82.77
-144.85
69.07
3.3
82.79
-174.16
52.29
3.5
83.12
165.8
-14.05
4.5
83.15
165.75
-13.98
4.5
83.36
165.7
-14.08
5.8
83.57
165.34
-14.01
4.8
83.69
-150.51
63.21
2.8
83.93
165.47
-13.85
5.1
84
165.87
-14.16
5
84.42
165.55
-13.73
5.3
84.55
165.6
-13.9
5.8
84.66
165.56
-13.91
5.7
84.89
165.63
-14.12
4.9
85.17
-66.94
18
2.6
85.45
165.62
-13.88
5.2
85.6
165.81
-14.12
5.1
85.66
-174.59
52.32
2.8
86.15
165.87
-14.04
6.3
86.23
165.55
-14.06
6.9
86.5
-142.67
57.48
3.1
87.04
-170.17
52.02
3.2
87.75
-142.65
59.03
3.4
88.29
165.62
-13.99
4.5
88.62
93.9
32.53
4.9
89.05
-138.81
59.15
3.1
89.61
-169.41
53.78
4.6
90.04
168.25
-15.43
4.9
90.1
93.85
32.6
4.3
90.26
-151.16
61.26
2.8
90.35
86.3
54.27
4.8
90.58
70.46
36.45
4.1
90.66
165.62
-13.88
5.1
91.07
127.18
7.92
4.6
91.78
121.95
23.79
4.9
91.95
121.93
23.85
4.9
92.12
93.94
32.47
4.8
92.91
179.91
-24.61
4.2
93.23
102.02
19.1
4.2
93.57
-152.66
59.57
3.1
95.64
95.65
25.93
4.6
96.02
-115.35
32.24
2.5
96.62
142.57
40.42
5.1
96.87
-155.49
19.17
3.3
97.21
14.31
38.81
4.7
98.06
94.17
32.56
4.5
98.52
93.94
32.57
4.7
98.82
14.32
38.78
5.2
99.56
130.97
-5.68
4.2
100.34
128.47
-7.34
4.5
100.42
-178.9
-17.68
4.5
102.43
14.15
38.72
5.7
102.89
14.25
38.72
4.9
103.44
-168.65
52.6
3.7
103.59
123.87
6.57
4.5
104.46
154.08
-61.67
4.5
105.51
-152.87
60.12
2.7
106
-159.64
54.6
4.2
106.17
147.85
-6.38
4.4
106.63
-178.07
-20.89
4.3
107.11
-125.09
40.62
3.4
108.26
-75.9
7.2
4.2
108.76
-71.43
-29.52
4.2
109.54
165.61
-14.17
4.6
109.86
93.75
32.31
4.2
109.92
-160.9
55.01
3.2
109.99
-66.58
-21.35
4.5
110.47
100.62
28
4.5
111.42
-80.35
7.59
4
112.16
93.96
32.41
4.1
112.35
93.74
32.61
4.4
112.45
-162.19
54.23
2.7
112.52
-67.78
18.95
3.2
112.59
-67.32
-24.29
4.5
113.3
64.82
28.54
4.4
114.77
-121.3
36.66
3
115.04
-163.55
53.34
4
115.12
-68.34
-21.67
4.6
115.58
154.92
48.38
4.8
116.67
152.26
-5.73
5
117.21
-155.61
19.42
2.7
117.63
-173.33
-15.13
4.9
118.14
-161.36
53.32
3.9
118.64
93.99
32.37
5
119.39
147.08
44.04
4.8
119.79
93.81
32.32
4.7
119.89
-134.28
65.02
4.2
119.89
-175.44
-22.56
4.8
119.91
93.88
32.45
4.5
120
93.74
32.47
4.6
120.39
93.94
32.49
4.9
120.78
94.03
32.52
4.3
120.99
86.23
33.8
4.9
121.29
77.36
40.15
4.7
121.42
-155.17
58.65
2.6
121.55
93.87
32.44
5.2
122.19
93.78
32.38
7
122.33
-122.86
45.89
3
124.37
165.62
-13.91
4.9
125.1
-82.32
8.99
4.4
125.79
102.13
-2.8
4.9
126.04
-151.22
64.21
2.9
126.62
71.4
36.68
4.6
127
-109.88
41.56
3.3
127.47
-82.17
9.1
4.4
127.67
-64.11
19.17
3.4
128.18
160.27
53.8
4.5
128.64
145.22
13.85
4.6
128.93
163.52
-62.41
4.8
129.28
-91.24
14.97
4.2
129.75
-148.82
62.24
2.9
130.94
-103.47
32.76
2.5
131.35
152.25
-5.13
4.8
132.01
-34.09
56.97
4.8
132.09
-152.05
59.96
2.7
132.44
-121.23
37.17
3.2
132.48
-179.17
-21.14
4.2
133.16
-93.84
14.86
4.6
133.35
-80.63
7.45
4
134.36
0.37
72.11
4.4
135.03
-124.17
40.23
3.3
135.62
-68.73
-31.22
4.4
136.32
-27.06
-55.97
5
138.77
-34.2
56.84
5
138.96
-163.59
53.5
2.8
139.1
-34.17
56.78
5.3
139.11
-175.91
51.4
2.6
139.37
-140.5
61.48
3.1
139.49
-69.95
-20.37
2.8
139.55
-163.57
53.5
2.5
140.17
14.73
-19.79
4.9
140.24
-150.6
63.13
2.5
140.26
-154.12
56.9
2.6
140.32
129.68
-6.72
4.4
140.61
-163.6
53.51
3.8
140.89
-154.84
56.5
2.5
141.4
-169.56
51.93
2.9
141.65
-34.23
56.95
5
141.86
-103.28
31.99
2.6
142.07
165.58
-14.12
5
142.07
165.43
-14.16
4.7
142.54
27.46
-52.81
5.1
143.27
-163.61
53.52
2.8
143.42
158.03
49.25
4.6
144.83
-120.61
40.88
3.1
145.37
165.38
-14.13
4.9
145.53
130.31
31.09
4.3
145.81
165.54
-14.1
5
145.83
-160.32
54.55
3.1
145.86
-163.69
53.54
2.7
146.07
142.62
42.57
4.7
146.15
165.47
-14.01
4.9
146.31
-163.57
53.46
2.5
146.34
-177.62
-19.41
4.1
146.79
175.52
51.27
3.3
147.12
-166.53
52.62
2.5
147.57
-104.14
31.66
2.5
147.78
-162.08
52.84
3.2
147.98
-104.14
31.65
3.8
148.08
-163.58
53.49
2.6
148.43
-163.57
53.5
3.3
148.45
-163.59
53.43
3.2
148.68
-163.46
53.43
4.5
149.19
-165.56
53.26
2.5
149.27
-152.32
60.15
2.9
149.35
-11.35
-6.84
4.9
149.85
-160.3
54.56
2.9
149.98
-163.45
53.05
4
150.27
-162.04
54.57
2.6
151.18
-103.48
32.79
2.7
151.2
-103.29
31.99
2.6
151.63
-104.41
31.66
2.5
152.12
125.59
13.03
5.2
153.01
128.14
-7.56
5.1
155.72
-66.32
18.95
3.3
156.36
165.83
-14.03
4.7
156.97
-66.93
17.99
2.8
157.39
-152.34
59.5
2.8
157.66
-104.46
31.67
2.8
158.04
-173.45
52.03
2.5
158.09
-175.48
50.43
2.7
158.63
-160.37
54.51
2.9
158.77
-148.92
66.11
2.8
159.27
-176.24
51.45
2.6
159.42
-82.7
4.6
5
159.68
139.98
35.72
4.5
159.83
-66.26
19.31
3.7
160.17
-173.28
52.03
2.6
160.53
178.56
51.74
2.5
160.84
-66.8
17.77
2.6
161.16
-171.49
53.15
3.1
161.34
179.59
-25.5
4.9
161.47
75.12
37.3
4.6
161.89
-80.63
7.6
4.3
161.92
-151.82
60.65
2.7
163.97
-98.91
28.82
2.5
164.32
-174.33
50.52
2.9
164.69
165.66
-14.05
4.9
164.85
152.91
46.22
4.7
164.99
-101.93
32.27
2.5
166.15
-178.94
-25.99
4.2
166.54
-154.78
58.35
2.7
166.63
-26.26
37.96
5.1
166.7
126.86
2.47
4.2
167.44
-82.66
6.09
4.5
167.65
-82.57
6.32
5.4

All 367 earthquakes are listed below.