Information about Earthquakes in Russia at the Beginning of 19th Century in Periodicals

Abstract

In this paper we attempt to determine the sources of original information on earthquakes among newspapers published in Russia in 1809–1819. It is revealed that the information presented in periodicals was not used to the full extent in compiling the main historical catalogs of earthquakes in Russia. Paradoxically, instead of the original reports from Russian newspapers, often greatly abridged and distorted information was cited from translated versions and European newspapers, as well as from descriptive catalogs of earthquakes compiled in Paris and London. It is shown that in Russia there were several communication channels for transmitting messages from distant localities to the center. Not all incoming information was published; some of it ended up in the archives, usually as reports to the authorities. Some information remained in personal correspondence. Therefore, research on historical seismicity cannot be limited to searching for information in newspapers.