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Earthquake magnitudes are measured using seismometers. Based on the amplitude of the seismic waves, seismologists can make a preliminary estimate of the moment and Richter magnitudes of the earthquake.

A more accurate estimate of the moment magnitude is made by calculating the earthquakes seismic moment (M0 - which has the unit of dynes/cm =where 1 dyne/cm = 1x10-7 N/m) which is a more accurate measure of the total energy released during an earthquake and is derived based on the elastic moduli of the crust where the earthquake occurred, the length of the slip surface and the cross sectional area of the slip surface as follows:

M0 = G x AFx DF

Where:

G = Shear modulus of the rock mass

AF = Area of the rupture along the fault

DF = average displacement on AF

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