Groundquakes were natural phenomena on rocky planets. As the planet's core spun, convection currents created rift zones, faults, and plates on the surface. When two plates slid past each other, or one under another, the immense friction caused a groundquake. Anything caught in the shock wave could be damaged or destroyed from shaking.
A groundquake's intensity was measured in standard magnitude[1] or the Imperial quake scale.[2] A groundquake rated 77.88 on the latter scale was considered fairly major.[2]
Natural occurrences of groundquakes
Groundquakes were common to Berchest,[1] Shola, Riflor, Velusia, and many other planets. The planet Aleen was devastated by a series of groundquakes, after which the Republic sent a relief effort.[3]
In 43.5 ABY, groundquakes occurred on the planet Kessel.
Artificially created groundquakes
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.[4]
The initial shot on Despayre from the first Death Star's superlaser triggered massive groundquakes and shifted entire tectonic plates.[5]
During the Conquest of Makeb, Imperial forces detonated explosives throughout the planet's caves to simulate a groundquake.[6]
Appearances
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
- Star Wars: The Old Republic
- Template:TOR
- Template:TOR (Mentioned only)
- Groundquakes Hit Berchest Cities — HoloNet News Vol. 531 #47 (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Mercy Mission"
- Lando Calrissian and the Mindharp of Sharu (First appearance)
- Death Star
- The Keeper's Secret!
- The Final Fury!
- Allegiance
- Star Wars 16: The Hunter (Mentioned only)
- "Rude Awakening" — The Black Sands of Socorro
- Beyond the Rim (Mentioned only)
- Star Wars: Force Commander
- Template:SWG (Mentioned only) (as earthquake)
- Splinter of the Mind's Eye (First mentioned)
- Mission from Mount Yoda
- Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor
- The New Jedi Order: The Unifying Force
Sources
- Star Wars Gamemaster Handbook
- Goroth: Slave of the Empire
- Flashpoint! Brak Sector (As "earthquake")
- Galaxy Guide 2: Yavin and Bespin, Second Edition (As "earthquake")
- Mission from Mount Yoda
- Coruscant and the Core Worlds
- Scavenger's Guide to Droids
- Galaxy of Intrigue
- Mercy Mission on StarWars.com (backup link (explore/the-clone-wars/ep405/#!/about) not verified!)
- Star Wars: The Old Republic Explorer's Guide
- Suns of Fortune
- Kindalo in the Encyclopedia (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Strongholds of Resistance
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Groundquakes Hit Berchest Cities — HoloNet News Vol. 531 #47 (content now obsolete; backup link)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Mission from Mount Yoda
- ↑ Kindalo in the Encyclopedia (content now obsolete; backup link)
- ↑ Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
- ↑ Death Star
- ↑ Star Wars: The Old Republic: Rise of the Hutt Cartel