According to research carried out by Samizdat in 2029, the number of low magnitude earthquakes (defined as having a magnitude of 4 or less) occurring in the world has increased by 300% from 2018 to 2028. They note that the number of larger magnitude quakes has been consistent across these years, but suggests that the lower magnitude ones are caused intentionally. In the same year, there is an international summit on seismology held in Hawaii that discusses activity around the Ring of Fire. One leading seismologist warns that there is a build-up of seismic energy between the North American and Pacific tectonic plates. If the subducting North American plate moves relative to the Pacific plate and causes a shift in the water column, a large-scale tsunami unlike one seen since the Paleolithic