What would happen if there was 9.9 magnitude Earthquake?

Answer 1

A measurement of 100 on the Richter scale is absurd. Since the scale is logarithmic, each unit increase is 10 times larger than the previous. So a 9.0 is ten times greater in power than an 8.0. Humans have never experienced an earthquake larger than a 9.5. An earthquake at 100 Richter would be 1091 times stronger than a 9.0, which makes no sense (I doubt there is enough energy in the earth to create such a force).

The chart below shows the energy yield of an earthquake in equivalent TNT weight. Looks like a 12 would theoretically tear the earth apart.

Richter TNT for Seismic Example

Magnitude Energy Yield (approximate)

-1.5 6 ounces Breaking a rock

1.0 30 pounds Large Blast at a Construction Site

1.5 320 pounds

2.0 1 ton Large Quarry or Mine Blast

2.5 4.6 tons

3.0 29 tons

3.5 73 tons

4.0 1,000 tons Small Nuclear Weapon ( 1 kiloton)

4.5 5,100 tons Average Tornado (total energy)

5.0 32,000 tons

5.5 80,000 tons Little Skull Mtn., NV Quake, 1992

6.0 1 million tons Double Spring Flat, NV Quake, 1994

6.5 5 million tons Northridge, CA Quake, 1994

7.0 32 million tons Hyogo-Ken Nanbu, Japan Quake, 1995; Largest Thermonuclear Weapon

7.5 160 million tons Landers, CA Quake, 1992

8.0 1 billion tons San Francisco, CA Quake, 1906

8.5 5 billion tons Anchorage, AK Quake, 1964

9.0 32 billion tons Chilean Quake, 1960

10.0 1 trillion tons (San-Andreas type fault circling Earth)

12.0 160 trillion tons (Fault Earth in half through center,

OR Earth's daily receipt of solar energy)

Answer 2

If you mean on the Richter scale, the scale does not go that high in the real world.

It's a logarithmic scale.

The highest measured is below Richter 10.0, about equivalent to a nuclear explosion with a yield of one teratonne (1 000 000 000 000 tonnes) of TNT, so a Richter 100 would be 10^10 (10 000 000 000) times more powerful than the most powerful event ever recorded.

Earth-shattering comes to mind.

Answer 3

That would be a very powerful quake. In 1906 San Francisco was destroyed by a 7 point quake. So, nearly 10 point would mean a very destructive quake if one hit in a populated center. Not only would buildings crumble, but gas and water lines would break. Roads would buckle and overpasses crumble.

Answer 4

A 9.9 magnitude earthquake would be extremely rare and catastrophic, causing widespread devastation, especially in coastal areas near the epicenter. It could trigger tsunamis, landslides, and infrastructure collapse on a massive scale, leading to loss of life, displacement of populations, and long-term recovery challenges. Efforts to prepare for and mitigate such an event are crucial to minimize its impact.

Answer 5

lots of people wouid be lost and gone forever