Groundquakes were natural phenomena on rocky planets. As their internal cores spun, they created rift zones, faults, and plates on the surface as a result of convection currents. When two plates moved past each other, or slid past or under each other, the immense friction would result in a groundquake and anything caught in the shock wave would be damaged or destroyed from shaking. Scales for measuring groundquakes included standard magnitude^[1] and the Imperial quake scale.^[2]

A magnitude 77.88 groundquake was mentioned as being fairly major.^[3]

Natural occurrences of groundquakesEdit

Groundquakes were common to Berchest^[1], Shola, Riflor, Velusia, and many other planets.

In 43.5 ABY, groundquakes occurred on the planet Kessel.

Artificially created groundquakesEdit

When Bao-Dur's Mass Shadow Generator was activated once again on Malachor V it unleashed massive and devastating groundquakes that literally tore the planet apart.

The initial shot on Despayre from the first Death Star's superlaser triggered massive groundquakes and shifted entire tectonic plates.^[4]

AppearancesEdit

• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
• Star Wars: The Old Republic
•  Groundquakes Hit Berchest Cities—HoloNet News Vol. 531 47
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Mercy Mission"
• Lando Calrissian and the Mindharp of Sharu (First appearance)
• Death Star
• Allegiance
•  "Rude Awakening"—The Black Sands of Socorro
• Star Wars: Force Commander
• Mission from Mount Yoda
• Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor
• The Unifying Force

SourcesEdit

• Revenge of the Sith: Incredible Cross-Sections
• Mission from Mount Yoda
• Coruscant and the Core Worlds
• Galaxy of Intrigue
•  Mercy Mission on StarWars.com (backup link on Archive.org)

Notes and referencesEdit

See alsoEdit

• Earthquake on Wikipedia