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Richter magnitudesDescriptionEarthquake effectsFrequency of occurrenceLess than 2.0MicroMicroearthquakes, not felt.About 8,000 per day2.0-2.9MinorGenerally not felt, but recorded.About 1,000 per day3.0-3.9Often felt, but rarely causes damage.49,000 per year (est.)4.0-4.9LightNoticeable shaking of indoor items, rattling noises. Significant damage unlikely.6,200 per year (est.)5.0-5.9ModerateCan cause major damage to poorly constructed buildings over small regions. At most slight damage to well-designed buildings.800 per year6.0-6.9StrongCan be destructive in areas up to about 160 kilometres (100 mi) across in populated areas.120 per year7.0-7.9MajorCan cause serious damage over larger areas.18 per year8.0-8.9GreatCan cause serious damage in areas several hundred miles across.1 per year9.0-9.9Devastating in areas several thousand miles across.
1 per 20 years10.0+EpicNever recorded.
Extremely rare (Unknown)
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoYes. Though still widely used, the Richter scale has been superseded by the moment magnitude scale in the measurement of large earthquakes (those with a magnitude greater than 7), which has been designed to give similar values.
For more information on these scales please see the related questions.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoThe Richter scale measures magnitude.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agothere both measure earthquakes
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Are the Richter scale and the beaufort scale the same thing?
A Richter scale used to express the energy released by an earthquake A Beaufort scale is used to derermine the sthrenth of wind.
What scale is used to measure the energy released by an earthquake?
The moment magnitude scale is used by seismologists to measure the amount of energy released by large earthquakes (those greater than magnitude 8.0). For smaller earthquakes (those with magnitudes less than 7.0 and with epicentres less than 650 km from a seismometer station may be used) the method devised by Richter (the Richter magnitude scale) may be used to estimate the magnitude. The surface wave magnitude scale may be used for earthquakes with magnitudes up to 8.0 (devised by Richter and Gutenberg to extend the utility of the Richter scale.) Richter magnitudes are generally easier to derive than moment magnitudes being based on direct seismometer measurements, whereas the moment magnitude is a more4 fundamental measurement of magnitude being based on the rock mass strength around the fault, the amplitude of fault movement and the cross sectional area of that portion of the fault that moved. However this is more difficult to measure. As such it is common for initial reports to be in Richter magnitudes and more detailed letter magnitudes to be reported as moment magnitudes.
Are earth quakes all the same?
No - they are all different; they are measured on the Richter Scale.
What is a measurement to an earthquake?
There are two instruments, which are basically the same thing. There is the seismograph , and a more specific tool measures the waves on what is called the Richter scale. Earthquakes are given a number from one to ten, ten being the strongest. The strongest earthquake that their ever was, was measured a 9.3.
An earthquake will be given one number on the Richter scale but more than one on the mercalli scale why is this?
The Richter scale measures the strength of an earthquake, this is always the same value, no matter where you are. The Mercalli intensity scale measures the effect of the earthquake on people and structures, and the intensity value will differ depending on how far you are from the epicenter. For instance, a 5.5 magnitude earthquake may be damaging (intensity VII) around the epicenter, but 300 miles away it may be barely felt (intensity II).
What is the difference between the Richter scale with the moment of magnitude scale?
well nothing. they are the same
Is there a scale for the severity of the tsunami?
The scale for a Tsunami is a Richter Scale. The Richter Scale is a scale that measures earthquakes, and Tsunamis are normally made by earthquakes. But be careful, because Tsunamis are normally formed by 6.5's or greater on the Richter Scale. -I hope I helped Actually, the Richter Scale is invalid, and we do not use it any more. The scale we use today is the MMS, or Moment Magnitude Scale. In the MMS, every point up the scale (Which goes from 1-10), multiplies it's magnitude by 30.
What scale is the instrument that is used to record primary secondary and surface waves of an earthquake?
The Richter Magnitude Scale. The magnitude is a base-10 logarithmic scale obtained by calculating the logarithm of the amplitude of waves measured by a seismograph. An earthquake that measures 5.0 on the Richter scale has a shaking amplitude 10 times larger and corresponds to an energy release of approximately 31.6 times greater than one that measures 4.0 The same applies comparing a 4.0 to a 3.0, a 6.0 to a 5.0, and so on.
What scale helps you determine the magnitude of an earthquake?
There are two instruments, which are basically the same thing. There is the seismograph , and a more specific tool measures the waves on what is called the Richter scale. Earthquakes are given a number from one to ten, ten being the strongest. The strongest earthquake that their ever was, was measured a 9.3.
Are the Richter scale and the beaufort scale the same thing?
A Richter scale used to express the energy released by an earthquake A Beaufort scale is used to derermine the sthrenth of wind.
Is a seismograph the same thing as the Richter scale?
No!
What scale is used to measure the energy released by an earthquake?
The moment magnitude scale is used by seismologists to measure the amount of energy released by large earthquakes (those greater than magnitude 8.0). For smaller earthquakes (those with magnitudes less than 7.0 and with epicentres less than 650 km from a seismometer station may be used) the method devised by Richter (the Richter magnitude scale) may be used to estimate the magnitude. The surface wave magnitude scale may be used for earthquakes with magnitudes up to 8.0 (devised by Richter and Gutenberg to extend the utility of the Richter scale.) Richter magnitudes are generally easier to derive than moment magnitudes being based on direct seismometer measurements, whereas the moment magnitude is a more4 fundamental measurement of magnitude being based on the rock mass strength around the fault, the amplitude of fault movement and the cross sectional area of that portion of the fault that moved. However this is more difficult to measure. As such it is common for initial reports to be in Richter magnitudes and more detailed letter magnitudes to be reported as moment magnitudes.
What scale is described for damage in an earthquake?
Technically, you can't tell damage from the Richter Scale, because the Richter Scale rating of an earthquake stays the same no mater how far out you go from the epicenter. The scale that measures the damage of an earthquake (meaning the scale rating gets lower the further you go from the epicenter) is called the Mercalli Scale. The Mercalli Scale goes from II to XII (2 to 12) and the rating on the Mercalli Scale in which damage starts to occur is about 6. However, if you are going by the Richter Scale, damage at the epicenter would start at about 5.0
Why is Celsius better?
It has the same magnitude as the kelvin scale.
Are all the earthquakes in the world measured the same way?
All earthquakes are measured on either the Richter scale or the Mercalli scale.
What is the difference between the Mercalli scale the Richter scale and the magnitude scale?
In seismology (the study of seismic waves or vibrations in the ground / earthquakes) the Richter scale is a magnitude scale. Magnitude scales show the amount of energy released by an earthquake. In the case of the Richter magnitude this is based on the amplitude of the seismic waves measured on a seismometer and the distance of the seismometer station from the epicentre of the earthquake. The magnitude value should be the same for a given earthquake no matter where it is recorded. The Mercalli scale is an intensity scale. This gives information on the perceived ground shaking in a specific location. The value is derived from witness reports on the perceived violence of the shaking, from the damage done to buildings and other infrastructure and also based on measurements from accelerometers and other seismic recording instruments in order to make the Mercalli intensity value a less subjective parameter. The intensity and damage to infrastructure can be influenced strongly by a number of variables including local ground conditions and the use (or otherwise) of earthquake resistant design. Please see the related questions for more information.
What does a Richter scale measure on an earthquake?
RICHTER SCALEThe Richter scale (known as the local magnitude scale to seismologists) was originally developed to measure small to moderate magnitude earthquakes in southern California by Charles Richter and Beno Gutenberg. The numerical levels indicate the energy released by a particular quake. The numerical value is obtained from the logarithm of the maximum amplitude of seismic waves as recorded on a seismometer. This value is then scaled to account for the distance from the epicentre of the earthquake to the seismometer so as to allow the value to be correlated with the local magnitude readings from other seismometers in differing locations (as seismic waves lose their energy as they propagate through the earth so if this correction was not made, then different seismometer stations at different distances would give differing Richter magnitudes for the same earthquake). The Richter magnitude measurement produced by this methodology in theory has no limit and may be positive or negative.As stated above, the Richter scale itself is a logarithmic mathematical formula which is calibrated so that a ten fold increase in amplitude relates to a single whole number increase on the scale (e.g. an earthquake with a Richter magnitude of 5 has seismic waves with a maximum amplitude 10 times larger than those for a magnitude 4). It has a number of practical limitations, in that it is poor at recording earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 7 and at distances greater than 650 km from a seismometer.The equation for calculating the Richter magnitude (MR) is shown below:MR = (Log10A) - (Log10A0)WhereA = maximum zero to peak amplitude of seismic wave (mm) recorded.A0 = Empirical function derived from the distance from seismometer station to earthquake epicentreLog10A0 From 0 to 200 km distance:Log10A0 = 0.15 - 1.6 log(distance in km)Between 200 and 600 km distance by:Log10A0 = 3.38 - 3.0 log(distance in km)Due to the limitations described above (distance and maximum size of measurable earthquake), it has since been replaced by the Moment Magnitude Scale in the measurement of large earthquakes - for information on this, please see the related question.the richter scale reads the magnitude of earthquake.
