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The oldest scale of measurement for earthquakes were in fact intensity rather than magnitude scales with the first being The Mercalli intensity scale. Intensity scales describe the earthquake in terms of the damage caused. Later, improved versions of this form of measurement were published in 1931 as the Mercalli-Wood-Neumann scale.
The first widely accepted magnitude scale (magnitude being a description of the energy released by an earthquake) was developed by Charles Richter in 1935. This was known as the Richter magnitude scale (also known as the Local Magnitude Scale), which categorises them in absolute terms based on calculating the logarithm of their amplitude and the distance of the seismometer station from the epicentre. The Richter scale was designed to measure the magnitude of moderate and small earthquakes. The scale has no theoretical upper or lower bounds, however in practical terms the lower bound is defined by the minimum sensitivity of seismometers and their ability to detect small earthquakes and the upper limit (effectively around a magnitude of 7.0) is due to the fact that earthquakes larger than this due to the wavelength of seismic waves produced by large earthquakes.
In order to attempt to overcome this, Charles Richter along with his colleague Beno Gutenberg developed the surface and body wave magnitude scales. These produce results that are consistent with the original magnitude scale and extend it's utility up to earthquake with a magnitude of 8.0
For earthquakes larger than magnitude 7-8 a new scale was required and this was developed in the 1970s and is known as the Moment Magnitude Scale (MMS) which measures the earthquakes magnitude based on the length of the fault that slips, the amplitude of the fault movement and the elastic moduli of the rockmass around the fault zone.
The modern scale retains the familiar logarithmic continuum of values with the original Richter (local) magnitude scale.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoMoment Magnitude scale, Richter scale, Mercalli scale
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Used to measure the strength of earthquakes?
a Richter scale
What does the rictor scale measure?
Earthquakes.
What is the name of the scale that measures earthquakes?
The Richter scale was originally developed to measure the strength or magnitude of moderate earthquakes (magnitudes less than 7). The surface wave magnitude scale was then developed by Richter and Guttenburg to allow larger earthquake magnitudes to be measured (up to 8). To measure large earthquakes the moment magnitude scale must be used. To measure the severity of earthquakes, the Modified Mercalli intensity scale is used in the US and the Macroseismic scale is used in Europe.
What is the scale used to measure earthquakes?
The absolute magnitude of a quake is conventionally reported by numbers on the Moment magnitude scale (formerly Richter scale, magnitude 7 causing serious damage over large areas), whereas the felt magnitude is reported using the modified Mercalli intensity scale (intensity II-XII).
Does the Richter scale measure intensity?
Yes it does. The Richter Scale measures intensity for earthquakes!!
Used to measure the strength of earthquakes?
a Richter scale
Which scale is used to measure the destructive effects of earthquakes?
Earthquake measure
What scale is used today to measure earthquakes?
sizemograph
What is the function of the rchter scale?
The Richter Scale is used to measure the intensity of earthquakes.
What scale gives the intensity of earthquakes?
Richter scale is used to measure earthquakes magnitude Shake intensity is measured on the Mercalli scale
Is the Richter scale used to measure the strength of earthquakes?
yes it is
Who invented the scale used to measure earthquakes?
Charles Richter
What machine is used to measure power of an earthquakes?
richter scale
What is the range in magnitudes for earthquakes and what scale is used to measure them?
8.0
What scale is used to describe the strength of an earthquakes?
The scale used to measure the strength of an earthquake is called the Richter scale
What is the numerical scale used to express the strength of an earthquake?
The Richter scale is used to measure the strength of earthquakes.
What scale is used to measure earthquake intensity?
The moment magnitude scale is used to measure the magnitude of large earthquakes. The Richter scale is still used to make an initial estimate of the magnitude of larger earthquakes and to measure small and moderate ones (those with a magnitude below 7).
