Contemporary publications in Europe on the Spanish earthquake of 1884

Abstract

After the occurrence of the mainshock on the 25 December 1884, a considerable number of reports on the damage caused by the catastrophic Andalusian earthquake were published mainly during the following year (1885) in several European journals, as well as in bulletins of scientific societies and books. A few of them were anonymous notes, whereas others were signed by most important geologists and seismologists from different European countries. Special cases are the publications from the members of the three commissions that were specifically appointed to study this Andalusian earthquake. In this article, we present detailed information about the publications that appeared mainly during the following year (1885) of the occurrence of this earthquake. The prompt study of the Andalusian earthquake provided an opportunity for the scientific community at that time to present and disseminate new modern ideas about the nature of earthquakes and their relationship with the geodynamic processes and geology of the region.