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: Aug 20, 2026 - Aug 27, 2026 (pulled Aug 27, 2026 UTC)
Hours ago
Longitude
Latitude
Magnitude
2.45
-68.85
19.19
3.4
6.36
121.57
22.84
4.5
8.31
168.91
-13.95
4.5
8.43
-155.5
59.48
2.6
8.79
143.85
38.13
5.6
9.56
120.61
-8.33
4.7
9.76
120.7
-8.31
4.9
10.33
-67.06
17.97
2.6
10.73
-66.63
18.79
3.1
11.1
-150.26
61.23
2.5
11.39
-73.06
6.74
4.9
11.84
-148.88
66.49
2.7
12.34
-65.99
19.14
3.4
13.72
165.79
-11.04
4.9
13.89
121.51
-8.37
5
15.25
176.36
51.96
3.3
15.67
-65.43
17.97
3.1
17.16
-69.34
-26.16
4.3
17.18
-160
54.55
4.1
18.29
122.33
21.54
4.6
18.35
121.34
-8.33
4.6
18.44
-68.79
18.42
4
20.03
-65.44
17.94
2.9
20.17
-65.42
17.96
2.9
20.61
146.44
44.69
4.7
20.99
-64.94
18.71
3
21.23
143.66
39.73
4.8
22.4
11.68
-52.77
4.8
23.11
-119.61
36.17
2.5
23.16
-103.74
31.79
3
23.52
-150.47
60.63
2.5
24.94
176.3
51.94
3.1
25.2
-153.18
59.93
3.4
25.2
176.27
51.94
2.8
25.28
85.52
28.27
5.2
25.74
71.36
36.49
4.5
26.05
127.55
-6.62
4.5
26.34
127.49
-6.64
4.8
26.4
-156.37
20.16
2.5
26.53
-70.92
-25.52
4.2
26.62
120.29
-7.81
4.6
26.79
176.37
52.15
3.9
26.82
176.31
51.98
3.9
27.5
176.34
51.95
2.8
27.57
-165.18
53.78
2.5
27.87
78.09
31.75
4
28.18
-155.58
19.17
2.6
29.1
-125.96
40.55
2.6
30.12
-126.91
43.35
3
30.14
74.42
36.78
4.4
30.75
120.71
-8.26
4.9
30.79
176.28
51.95
3.4
31.75
141.89
37.27
4.7
31.86
-116.07
33.24
3.1
31.87
176.29
51.96
3.1
32.13
-152.86
59.52
3.4
32.13
-152.09
59.33
3.9
32.14
176.3
51.98
2.9
32.27
-155.58
20.26
2.6
32.36
-65.7
17.88
2.7
32.6
159.28
51.5
4.3
32.72
-169.4
52.31
2.5
32.78
176.31
51.97
3.1
32.88
125.81
3.69
4.2
32.9
-167.04
53.03
2.6
33.42
38.39
38.11
4.2
33.62
176.29
51.97
3
33.96
-147.52
60.31
2.6
34.4
149.68
46.25
4.3
35.21
176.31
51.99
3
35.26
-161.29
54.49
2.5
35.75
170.5
-14.23
4.5
35.79
-147.54
60.34
2.7
35.85
176.22
51.86
3.5
36.1
176.38
52.08
2.8
36.11
-150.73
63.3
3
36.88
-171.9
-17.41
5.2
37.17
120.63
-8.08
5
37.17
-163.73
52.83
2.7
37.26
-159.82
55.06
2.7
37.4
155.78
49.9
4.3
38.12
176.28
51.95
3.4
38.2
19.52
40.95
4.4
38.5
176.34
52.07
2.8
39.17
-166.98
52.36
2.5
39.62
179.35
50.17
2.9
39.66
-174.39
52.08
2.5
39.69
-91.52
14.79
4.3
39.71
167.88
-44.37
4.3
39.95
179.82
-23.35
5.5
40.65
127.33
-3.65
4.9
41.55
-160.07
54.44
2.5
42.03
-165.22
53.39
2.9
42.28
-118.74
37.41
2.6
42.33
-161.56
54.33
2.6
42.86
-104.3
31.69
2.7
43.02
145.63
43.05
5
43.26
-148.63
56.79
2.9
44.01
-176.16
51.32
3.6
44.25
-178.07
51.35
2.5
44.32
-173.89
51.49
2.6
44.77
-149.19
65.59
2.6
45.14
121.57
22.61
5.5
45.34
124.45
3.42
4.6
45.82
47.4
33.1
4.2
46.38
-23.23
63.85
4.2
48.51
-23.42
63.75
4.4
48.72
-68.18
18.84
4.1
48.92
-85.65
16.85
4.4
49.04
127.56
-6.61
4.7
49.2
-64.64
18.55
3.1
50.16
126.85
9.03
4.7
50.2
26.33
45.66
4.4
50.77
155.64
-6.97
4.5
50.83
70.46
34.46
4.9
51.06
-120.33
35.51
2.7
51.6
-177.02
51.3
2.5
52.06
120.25
-8.39
4.9
52.7
124.99
23.77
4.6
52.91
-151.48
63.16
3.1
53.27
-158
56.41
3
53.29
-107.55
35.26
2.7
55.11
152.05
-6.49
4.6
55.72
178.33
51.44
2.6
55.92
-154.31
58.97
3.9
56.46
176.33
52.03
2.9
56.52
-166.29
53.22
2.5
57.15
127.5
-6.69
5
57.31
-151.98
60.41
2.5
57.97
-160.21
54.52
2.5
58.87
-67.53
18.79
2.9
59.12
176.29
52.04
3.2
59.41
176.26
51.94
3.2
59.72
145.67
18.64
4.7
60.17
-93.39
31.84
2.6
60.43
-151.48
61.93
2.6
60.69
128.65
26.11
4.9
60.94
120.45
-7.78
4.8
61.98
127.46
-6.63
6
62.76
-118.83
37.45
2.9
63.66
-13.84
-17.7
5
64.07
176.29
51.95
3.6
64.14
-67.34
18.76
3
64.63
-157.58
57.75
2.5
64.74
-156.22
57.07
2.7
64.85
176.35
52.09
3
65.01
-151.15
58.39
2.6
65.05
-104.54
31.74
3.1
65.82
-172
-18.1
4.9
66.1
129.69
-5.05
5.5
66.49
-118.83
37.45
2.8
67.23
-119.52
38.52
2.7
67.49
-150.83
65.85
2.5
67.73
176.33
52.02
3.1
68.28
-117.84
36.07
2.7
68.53
-83.91
9.99
4.9
70.47
-176.29
-20.99
4.5
71.08
-67.15
-28.14
4.5
71.27
-67.38
18.33
2.6
72.12
-179.05
51.04
2.7
72.15
125.23
5.33
4.8
72.38
-174.43
51.72
2.5
72.5
176.31
51.98
3.2
72.58
-93.23
14.19
4.1
73.39
-14.92
-12.64
4.9
73.46
-76.84
4.52
4.4
73.82
120.47
-7.96
4.7
74.14
-151.04
58.55
3.2
74.43
-67.73
19.1
3.4
74.69
-178.18
51.16
2.5
74.93
120.49
-8.22
4.6
75.08
-150.07
56.24
2.9
75.46
-150.03
56.28
3
75.71
105.07
28.38
4.9
76.38
-166.88
52.95
2.6
76.44
178.53
51
3
76.8
176.38
52.19
5
77.03
-101.61
32.4
2.8
77.18
-66.85
-24.1
4.2
77.19
120.69
-8.04
4.7
78
-66.92
17.86
2.6
78.61
164.7
-10.69
5.3
78.61
-176.93
51.65
3.2
78.81
120.84
-8.2
5.2
79.51
-71.61
-36.74
4.5
79.56
-176.09
51.38
2.6
79.92
179.91
52
2.5
80.2
100.65
-2.07
4.4
80.23
-150.94
61.61
2.5
81.19
126.19
5.79
4.7
81.7
-127.24
43.41
2.7
81.86
-169.46
52.07
3
82.21
-66.46
-23.13
4.5
82.76
-25.26
-58.75
4.9
83.54
142.88
42.23
4.5
85.01
-164.81
53.74
2.7
85.35
177.36
51.74
3.3
85.37
176.3
51.91
3.5
86.05
155.51
-6.98
4.6
86.12
-170.42
52.15
2.7
86.4
142.83
41.83
6
86.52
-152.16
58.94
2.5
87.31
-150.8
62.9
3.1
87.73
-155.5
19.37
3.2
87.94
-162.17
54.47
2.6
88.07
-150.35
60.11
2.7
88.77
-14.85
-12.83
5.3
89.4
146.82
-6.2
4.3
89.87
-61.08
16.78
4.1
90.07
74.48
36.76
4.6
90.53
-122.95
39.5
2.8
90.86
-117.84
36.07
3.5
91.19
-67.37
18.79
3.1
91.89
-117.84
36.06
2.7
91.94
162.96
-10.9
5.2
92.13
-117.84
36.07
3.4
92.15
-117.84
36.07
4
92.21
-174.33
51.73
2.8
92.3
176.56
51.69
4
92.44
-153.49
58.06
3.8
92.78
-65.4
19.43
3.4
93.67
-166.56
53.62
2.5
94.08
-139.88
60.6
2.5
94.35
-65.34
10.67
4
94.49
-178.12
-18.35
4.6
95.05
-150.52
60.69
3.4
95.1
-150.27
61.57
3.3
95.66
-152.13
60.66
2.5
96.4
96
17.79
4.6
97.34
-174.98
50.82
2.5
97.75
-155.75
61.97
3.1
98.11
-163
53.88
2.6
98.23
-179.4
50.18
2.7
98.59
-67.68
18.99
3.3
99.27
-176.09
51.32
2.6
99.35
-120.47
35.92
2.8
99.61
141.91
36.95
4.4
101.67
-160.26
54.56
3.4
101.9
71.34
36.71
4.4
102.13
120.74
-8.12
4.5
102.25
-93.33
14.13
4.5
102.47
-66.85
17.88
2.6
102.59
-156.6
67.44
2.6
103.06
-159.92
54.57
2.6
103.08
176.39
52.02
3.7
104.08
-160.08
54.1
3.1
104.25
123.01
-0.17
4.9
104.82
176.33
52.01
4
105.21
176.35
52.04
3.4
105.37
-68.79
-22.19
4.6
105.4
128.61
28.19
4.4
105.44
176.18
51.7
3
105.83
-158.47
55.8
3
105.88
176.37
52.09
3.1
106.48
100.87
-3.03
4.5
107.11
177.12
51.62
2.6
107.14
140.08
35.94
5.8
107.43
120.6
-7.89
4.6
107.6
100.49
-3.3
4.7
109.57
176.33
52.06
3
111.13
-126.7
41.88
2.6
112.48
-178.11
51.22
2.8
113.83
-107.53
35.31
4.1
114.1
-176.61
51.86
2.5
115.03
-64.83
19.39
3.4
115.16
-68.53
18
3.3
115.66
120.7
-7.89
4.8
115.77
-47.6
-60.38
6.2
115.91
-161.35
54.43
3.1
116.28
-119
39.35
2.7
116.42
145.33
14.34
4.6
116.44
-149.67
60.91
3.9
116.48
-47.26
-60.26
5.7
116.79
-44.63
12.52
4.9
117.19
-169.67
52.19
2.6
117.42
126.74
6.74
5
117.77
-67.57
18.84
3.2
118.31
-67.77
19.04
3.7
118.36
146.72
13.9
4.9
118.39
121.46
-8.23
4.7
118.93
176.35
51.99
3.2
118.99
-163.2
53.92
2.7
119.41
125.58
9.4
5
120.27
176.23
51.8
3
120.48
122.08
24.42
4.4
122.16
120.69
-8.31
4.6
122.25
-64.78
19.51
3.7
122.56
-14.88
-12.77
5.3
122.63
120.56
-8.28
5.2
124.09
-66.32
-22.56
4.4
124.2
-149.82
56.11
2.9
125.71
-68.88
-25.57
4.7
126.15
158.35
51.92
4.4
126.23
69.67
34.62
4.1
126.25
-117.12
37.21
2.6
127.78
120.64
-7.88
4.9
128.14
-93.36
32.11
3.4
130.06
126.81
23.68
4.7
130.45
104.55
-7.58
5.7
130.71
-117.84
36.07
3.3
131.04
120.46
-7.77
4.9
131.39
-175.6
-19.69
4.6
132.06
120.27
-8.38
4.5
132.32
-105.57
-35.33
4.5
132.86
-117.84
36.06
3
133.01
142.64
28.47
4.5
133.69
179.79
-24.48
4.3
134.41
-27.63
48.03
4.6
134.62
-64.87
19.33
3.4
134.96
179.88
-24.52
4.4
135.04
-26.56
-58.85
5.4
135.42
-165.79
53.29
2.7
135.6
131.04
-3.41
4.9
135.83
-178.71
-31.94
4.9
136.11
140.38
33.72
5.4
136.22
129.89
-6.48
4.6
136.23
120.94
-8.31
4.6
136.77
179.71
51.3
3.1
136.87
120.53
-8.19
4.5
136.96
-124.23
40.56
2.6
137.1
120.54
-8.21
4.6
137.5
146.78
47.22
4.5
138.21
-160.11
54.43
3.5
138.48
-104.43
31.65
3.2
138.77
125.58
9.48
5.1
138.94
125.34
9.34
5.2
139.23
120.66
-8.36
4.5
139.64
120.52
-8.11
4.5
139.91
120.52
-7.82
4.9
139.94
-175.31
-24.71
5.1
140.22
-156.85
54.73
3.2
140.79
176.33
52.04
3.4
140.99
-109.87
41.56
3.1
142.2
23.57
-53.14
4.6
142.76
-168.26
52.36
2.6
142.78
-163.26
53.88
2.8
144.91
-163.34
53.95
4.2
145.46
-64.81
19.28
3.4
145.53
-64.86
19.42
3.7
145.6
120.51
-8.38
4.6
145.86
120.43
-8.25
4.4
146.04
33.57
41.02
4.3
146.3
-156.18
67.87
2.5
146.32
176.36
52.01
3.4
146.5
121.27
-8.28
4.6
146.67
-165.24
53.42
2.5
146.85
120.6
-8.22
4.6
146.92
176.35
52.06
3
146.95
-165.33
53.52
4.3
147.01
-176.25
51.29
3.4
147.07
-104.22
31.66
2.5
148.03
176.4
52.07
3.2
148.12
127.79
26.48
4.7
148.49
176.39
52.2
3.2
148.54
-141.45
-56.59
5
149.12
120.01
-8.05
4.4
150.03
176.34
52.02
3
150.06
-163.58
54.01
2.8
150.06
-163.83
54.11
2.6
150.19
145.62
15.97
4.5
150.31
176.33
52.01
3.1
150.44
176.31
51.93
3
150.64
-73.97
-14.95
4.4
151.75
176.27
51.9
3.4
152.25
121.33
-8.21
5
152.75
121.27
-8.42
5
153.03
176.28
51.87
3.1
153.57
176.3
51.98
2.8
153.73
153.56
-5.37
5.1
153.93
121.4
-8.29
5.6
154.14
-73.52
-14.64
6.7
154.17
-148.1
61.57
3.5
154.42
176.32
51.95
3.2
154.98
-149.09
56.78
2.7
155.58
-166.18
51.76
2.5
155.9
-136.37
59.02
3.1
157.1
-136.4
59.03
2.8
157.37
-160.59
55.29
3.7
157.62
107.81
-8.06
4.5
158.07
176.29
51.98
2.8
158.23
148.54
-1.17
4.9
158.53
-108.58
34.82
2.9
158.61
-115.25
32.21
2.7
158.96
-153.35
59.98
2.6
159.69
-178.65
-17.8
4.8
160.76
-149.22
61.19
3
160.78
-152.86
60.03
2.9
161.11
-174.9
50.35
2.7
161.25
176.3
52.01
3.6
162.01
120.87
-7.94
4.6
162.32
95.45
37.81
5.2
162.63
120.67
-8.22
5.3
163.25
120.66
-8.07
4.8
163.25
-163.5
53.45
2.6
163.61
-65.02
18.78
3
163.7
-116.51
38.44
2.6
163.72
-139.86
60.59
2.5
164.12
120.49
-8.22
5
164.23
120.38
-8.29
5
164.34
-68.86
-21.26
4.1
166.48
-150.95
63.01
3
166.52
-115.75
36.71
2.7
166.67
140.64
36.65
4.3
167.12
176.46
52.27
2.5
167.18
-168.05
52.18
2.5
167.27
-70.46
-24.42
4.7
167.32
176.29
51.99
3
167.53
-172.26
50.77
2.8
167.56
-88.78
37.06
2.5
167.59
120.39
-7.97
4.6
167.75
120.4
-8.39
4.6
All 411 earthquakes are listed below.