0
Which number on a Richter scale represents a very destructive earthquake?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
According to the US Geological Survey, earthquakes with a Richter magnitude of greater than 7 may be very destructive.
The Richter scale represents the energy released by an earthquake in terms of the amplitude of the seismic waves. As such the larger the number, the more energy the earthquake has and potentially the more damage / destruction it can cause.
For example the earthquake that caused the severe damage and destruction in Haiti in January 2010 was at level 7.2 on the scale. However the earthquake magnitude can't always guide the level of destruction that will occur as the Chilean earthquake that occurred in February 2010 was actually more powerful, but caused less destruction as the buildings in Chile were constructed to be earthquake resistant.
The largest earthquake ever recorded by man was approximately 9.5 on the Richter scale.
See the related link to the US Geological Survey for information on how earthquake magnitude can be related to the damage it may cause.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What event's magnitude is expressed as a number on the Richter Scale?
An earthquake's magnitude is expressed as a number on the Richter Scale.
An earthquake with magnitude 6.6 on the Richter scale releases how many times as much energy as an earthquake with magnitude 5.6?
A 3.0 earthquake releases 1,000 times more energy than a 1.0 earthquake.
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.
Define Richter Scale?
- The magnitude of an earthquake can be measured on a scale called Richter scale.- A Richter scale assigns a number each earthquake. This is also known as the Richter magnitude scale.
How is magnitude using the Richter scale?
The Richter magnitude scale (ML) scale, assigns a single number to quantify the amount of seismic energy released by an earthquake. It is a logarithmic scale based upon the horizontal amplitude of the largest displacement from zero on a seismometer. Each whole unit (i.e., 1.0) corresponds to an approximate energy increase of 32 time (e.g., a 6.0 M earthquake has 32 time the energy release of a 5.0 M).
What was the number on the Richter scale for the earthquake in Virginia?
The 2011 earthquake was a 5.8 magnitude on the Richter scale.
What does the Richter scale tell you about an earthquake?
The Richter scale provides a measure of the magnitude or energy released by an earthquake. It quantifies the amplitude (size) of seismic waves generated by the earthquake, which correlates with the earthquake's strength. The scale is logarithmic, meaning that each whole number increase on the scale represents a tenfold increase in the amplitude of shaking and approximately 31.6 times more energy release.
Is today's earthquake is the worst earthquake in the world ever happened?
No. It is neither the most powerful nor most destructive (in terms of number of deaths). The most powerful earthquake ever was the Valdivian / Great Chilean Earthquake of 1960 (9.5 on Richter scale) and the most destructive was the Shaanxi, China earthquake of 1556 which supposedly killed 850 thousand people. Today's earthquake in comparison was 8.9 on the Richter scale and so far 300 people have been confirmed dead and 500 more missing.
What event's magnitude is expressed as a number on the Richter Scale?
An earthquake's magnitude is expressed as a number on the Richter Scale.
What number was the Haitian earthquake?
The Haiti Earthquake measured about 7 on the Richter Scale.
What was the largest earthquake in the world by Richter number?
The highest Richter scale value for an historical earthquake was the Great Chilean Earthquake (Valdivia Earthquake) of 1960, which occurred on May 22, 1960. Its moment magnitude was estimated at 9.5 on the Richter scale (9.4 to 9.6).
What was the number according to the Richter scale for the haiti earthquake?
7.0 magnatude
An earthquake with magnitude 6.6 on the Richter scale releases how many times as much energy as an earthquake with magnitude 5.6?
A 3.0 earthquake releases 1,000 times more energy than a 1.0 earthquake.
How much stronger would a number 5 earthquake be than a number 3 earthquake?
Because of the Richter Scale's logarithmic properties, a number 5 earthquake is 100 times more severe than a number 3 earthquake.
How is magnitude measure using Richter scale?
The Richter scale assigns a magnitude number to an earthquake based on the maximum amplitude of the seismic waves as recorded on a seismometer and the distance of the seismometer station from the epicentre of the earthquake.
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 is an earthquakes magnitude measured using the Richter scale?
The Richter scale assigns a magnitude number to an earthquake based on the maximum amplitude of the seismic waves as recorded on a seismometer and the distance of the seismometer station from the epicentre of the earthquake.
