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.
The Richter scale measures the magnitude of seismic waves produced by an earthquake, which provides an estimate of the energy released at the earthquake's source. A higher Richter scale number indicates a stronger earthquake.
The values on the Richter scale express the magnitude of an earthquake, which is a measure of the energy released at the earthquake's source. The scale is logarithmic, meaning that each whole number increase represents a tenfold increase in the amplitude of seismic waves and approximately 31 times more energy release.
A 7.5 magnitude earthquake is 10 times larger in amplitude than a 6.5 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale. Each whole number increase on the Richter scale represents a tenfold increase in amplitude.
The Richter scale measures the magnitude of an earthquake, which represents the amount of energy released at the earthquake's source. It is a logarithmic scale, where each whole number increase corresponds to a tenfold increase in amplitude of the seismic waves.
An earthquake's magnitude is expressed as a number on the Richter Scale.
The 2011 earthquake was a 5.8 magnitude on the Richter scale.
An earthquake with a Richter magnitude 8 releases about 1000 times more energy than an earthquake with a Richter magnitude of 6. The Richter scale is logarithmic, so each whole number increase represents a tenfold increase in amplitude and approximately 31.6 times more energy released.
The Richter scale is used to rate the magnitude of an earthquake -- the amount of energy it released. This is calculated using information gathered by a seismograph.Richter ratings only give you a rough idea of the actual impact of an earthquake, though. As we've seen, an earthquake's destructive power varies depending on the composition of the ground in an area and the design and placement of man-made structures. The extent of damage is rated on the Mercalli scale. Mercalli ratings, which are given as Roman numerals, are based on largely subjective interpretations
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.
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.
No, the Richter or Moment Magnitude scale is logarithmic, meaning that each whole number increase represents approximately 31.6 times more energy release. Therefore, an 8.0 earthquake releases about 1000 times more energy than a 4.0 earthquake.
The Haiti Earthquake measured about 7 on the Richter Scale.
The Richter scale measures the magnitude of seismic waves produced by an earthquake, which provides an estimate of the energy released at the earthquake's source. A higher Richter scale number indicates a stronger earthquake.
The values on the Richter scale express the magnitude of an earthquake, which is a measure of the energy released at the earthquake's source. The scale is logarithmic, meaning that each whole number increase represents a tenfold increase in the amplitude of seismic waves and approximately 31 times more energy release.
A 7.5 magnitude earthquake is 10 times larger in amplitude than a 6.5 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale. Each whole number increase on the Richter scale represents a tenfold increase in amplitude.
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).
The Richter scale measures the magnitude of an earthquake, which represents the amount of energy released at the earthquake's source. It is a logarithmic scale, where each whole number increase corresponds to a tenfold increase in amplitude of the seismic waves.