A magnitude scale is simply a metric for quantifying the energy released in an earthquake and the amplitude of the waves the earthquake emits.
The most well-known magnitude scale in America is the Richter scale, which is equated in base 10 (that is, an earthquake that scores 5.0 on the Richter scale will have an Amplitude ten times greater than that of an earthquake that scores a 4.0 on the Richter scale).
The instrument that is used to measure the magnitude of an earthquake is a seismometer.
The magnitude of the 2010 Haiti earthquake on the Richter scale was 7.0
7.0 on the Moment Magnitude Scale.
Moment Magnitude, Ritcher Scale and Mercili Scale.
Richter scale
There are a number of earthquake magnitude scales, including the moment magnitude scale (the scale currently favoured by seismologists), the Richter or local magnitude scale and the surface wave magnitude scale.
A magnitude scale. Formerly the Richter magnitude scale was used, but this has now been replaced by the Moment magnitude scale.
A magnitude scale. Formerly the Richter magnitude scale was used, but this has now been replaced by the Moment magnitude scale.
The instrument that is used to measure the magnitude of an earthquake is a seismometer.
Earthquake magnitude is measured using a number of differing scales including the Richter scale, the moment magnitude scale and the surface magnitude scale. Intensity is measured using he Modified Mercalli intensity scale.
Magnitude
The most commonly referred to scale by the press and the public is the Richter scale for measuring earthquake magnitude. However this was actually replaced in the 1970s by the Moment Magnitude scale which is the magnitude scale favoured and in use by seismologists.
The Richter scale is not a linear scale. This means that an earthquake of magnitude 6 does not have twice as destructive power as the earthquake of magnitude 3. Actually, an earthquake with magnitude 5 is ten times more destructive than an earthquake of magnitude 4. The Richter scale is a logarithmic scale.
The Richter scale is a magnitude scale - it measures the amount of energy released by an earthquake. As such tit is a way of quantifying earthquake magnitude and comparing it to other earthquakes.
An earthquake's magnitude is expressed as a number on the Richter Scale.
The magnitude of the 2010 Haiti earthquake on the Richter scale was 7.0
Magnitude of the 2011 Japan earthquake on moment magnitude scale is 9.0.The use of the Richter magnitude scale has largely been replaced by the moment magnitude scale in most countries. The United States Geological Survey (USGS), for example, uses the moment magnitude scale designated as MMS or Mw to measure all large earthquakes.UPDATE: Official magnitude was updated to 9.1 on Nov 7, 2016.