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Seismic magnitude scales are used to describe the overall strength or "size" of an earthquake. These are distinguished from seismic intensity scales that categorize the intensity or severity of ground shaking (quaking) caused by an earthquake at a given location.
The Richter scale (/ ˈ r ɪ k t ər /), also called the Richter magnitude scale, Richter's magnitude scale, and the Gutenberg–Richter scale, is a measure of the strength of earthquakes, developed by Charles Francis Richter in collaboration with Beno Gutenberg, and presented in Richter's landmark 1935 paper, where he called it the "magnitude ...
Magnitude scales, like the moment magnitude, measure the size of the earthquake at its source. An earthquake has one magnitude. The magnitude does not depend on where the measurement is made. Often, several slightly different magnitudes are reported for an earthquake.
Earthquake Magnitude Scale; Magnitude Earthquake Effects Estimated Number Each Year; 2.5 or less: Usually not felt, but can be recorded by seismograph. Millions: 2.5 to 5.4: Often felt, but only causes minor damage. 500,000: 5.5 to 6.0: Slight damage to buildings and other structures. 350: 6.1 to 6.9: May cause a lot of damage in very populated ...
- Michigan Technological University
Mar 8, 2024 · Richter scale, widely used quantitative measure of an earthquake’s magnitude (size), devised in 1935 by American seismologists Charles F. Richter and Beno Gutenberg. Magnitude is determined using the logarithm of the amplitude (height) of the largest seismic wave calibrated to a scale by a seismograph.
- John P. Rafferty
Magnitude scales, like the moment magnitude, measure the size of the earthquake at its source. An earthquake has one magnitude. The magnitude does not depend on where the measurement is made. Often, several slightly different magnitudes are reported for an earthquake.
Today, earthquake magnitude measurement is based on the Moment Magnitude Scale (MMS). MMS measures the movement of rock along the fault. It accurately measures larger earthquakes, which can last for minutes, affect a much larger area, and cause more damage.
