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How high on the Richter scale does the quake have to be felt by people?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
In order to answer this question, we're going to have to explain a little bit about earthquake measurement.
One thing right off: scientists haven't actually used the Richter scale seriously for decades. The numbers that you see on the news are really the moment magnitude of the earthquake. However, the term has become ingrained in popular culture, and a lot of non-scientists still say "Richter scale" even though it's technically not the same thing (the numbers usually arepretty similar, though, for all but the biggest and smallest quakes).
A bigger problem is that what the moment magnitude describes is how much energy was released by the earthquake. How it feelsis a different scale altogether; the most common one is called the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale, and it uses Roman numerals ranging from I (noticed by almost no one) up to XII (obvious to everyone, since it means total destruction of masonry structures). Most people indoors would start to notice an earthquake at an intensity of somewhere between III and IV.
The MMI measurement is dependent on where the observer is relative to the earthquake, obviously; an earthquake in San Francisco that has an intensity of XII there will be all but undetectable in London without a seismograph.
That said, we can make some estimates.
Anything with a moment magnitude under 3 usually corresponds to an intensity of I and is going to be require instruments to detect even for people who are more or less right on top of it.
A moment magnitude of 4 generally means a maximum intensity of IV and will be felt by many people near the epicenter, particularly if they're inside.
A moment magnitude of 5 or higher will be felt by nearly everyone nearby.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Typically, earthquakes need to be at least a magnitude of 2.5 on the Richter scale for people to feel it. The magnitude required for human detection can vary based on factors like distance to the epicenter, local geology, and the sensitivity of the person.
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How bad is a 6.0 earthquake on the Richter scale?
A 6.0 earthquake as measured by the Richter scale is considered a "strong" earthquake. This means that earthquake resistant structures may survive the quake, but not necessarily other structures. The quake may be felt hundreds of miles from the epicenter, and there are around 100 to 150 6.0 quakes per year.
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).
Compare magnitude and intensity?
If you are speaking of earthquakes, read on. Magnitude is the level of ground movement that occurs during a quake. It is measured using seismographs and expressed using the Richter Scale. Intensity is based upon many factors, mainly damage caused and how many people felt it/what it felt like. It is expressed using a scale in roman numerals that goes up to twelve. (though I cannot recall the name of the scale, if it had one)
What scale is 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).
What is the 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).
What numerical scale expresses the magnitude of earthquakes?
The Richter Magnitude Scale often shortened to Richter scale represents a number to quantify the energy released during an earthquake on a logarithmic scale.Earthquakes with magnitude less than 2.0 are generally not felt by people but only registered by sensitive machines.Earthquakes at the 9.0 and greater range cause severe damage or collapse to all buildings in the area.
How big is a major earthquake?
The most common scale for measuring earthquakes is called the Richter scale, which uses machines called seismographs to measure the energy released from the quake. The scale runs from about a 1 to about a ten, although we have never had a quake measuring a ten. The strongest in recorded history was a 9.5 in Chili in 1960. Quakes under magnitude 3 are considered microquakes and are not even felt by humans. Quakes of magnitude 7 or above are considered major quakes. The Richter scale, however does not tell the whole story. The "size" of an earthquake, the amount of damage done, is dependant on the ground structure and the man-made structures at the surface.
What is the highest and lowest number on the Richter scale?
The lowest number on the Ritcher scale is a 1.0. A 1.0 is generally not felt at all. The highest number is a 10 on the Ritcher scale.
How are eathquakes detected?
The scientific device used to detect earthquakes is a Seismograph. They're necessary for detecting small earthquakes and for determining their strength. An earthquake that's at least 2.0 on the Richter scale can be felt by some people, and a 3.0 can be felt by most people.
What was the modified mercalli scale for the Newcastle in 1989 earthquakes?
The earthquake which hit Newcastle on 28 December 1989 measured 5.6 on the Richter scale. Effects of the quake were felt throughout central-eastern New South Wales. There were reports of damage to buildings in Scone, Gladstone and Sydney, the latter some 800km away. The shaking was even felt in tall buildings, in places over 5000km away.
How many earthquakes have hit London?
There are dozens within the general region, but most are too small to be felt. There have been several over the centuries in areas of England, and large quakes (over 3.0 on the Richter scale) about once every 50 to 100 years. The last two with epicenters in London were a month apart, on February 8 and March 8, 1750. The latest actual tremors felt in London were from the Dudley quake of September 22, 2002 and the Lincolnshire quake of February 27, 2008.
How do you use the word quake in a sentence?
The quake could be felt for miles.He was so nervous that he began to quake in his boots.
