What is the Richter Scale?

1 Answer
May 8, 2018

The Richter Scale is one method for measuring the intensity of earthquakes.

Explanation:

The Richter Magnitude Scale is one method for measuring the intensity of earthquakes. An earthquake's magnitude is the logarithm of the amplitude of waves. The waves are detected by seismographs.

![http://www.geologyin.com/2015/01/http://using-richter-scale-to-measure.html](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7YzPu6cs9sM/VMvCMEsW9mI/AAAAAAAAEJk/Rw6stXMgmHE/s1600/Theyre-Not-Measured-On-The-Richter-Scale.jpg)

Remember, because the Richter Magnitude Scale is logarithmic, each whole number increase in earthquake level means a tenfold increase. A level 5 compared to a level 6 earthquake might not seem like a huge increase, but a level 6 earthquake is ten times larger than a level 5 and is over thirty times stronger in terms of energy released. Compare different earthquake magnitudes [here.](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/topics/calculator.php)

You can read about measuring the size of earthquakes in more detail from the US Geological Society here.