Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
The moment magnitude scale (MMS; denoted explicitly with M or M w or Mwg, and generally implied with use of a single M for magnitude [1]) is a measure of an earthquake's magnitude ("size" or strength) based on its seismic moment.
An earthquake's seismic moment can be estimated in various ways, which are the bases of the M wb, M wr, M wc, M ww, M wp, M i, and M wpd scales, all subtypes of the generic M w scale. See Moment magnitude scale § Subtypes for details. Seismic moment is considered the most objective measure of an earthquake's "size" in regard of total energy. [50]
Officially it's called the moment magnitude scale. It's a logarithmic scale , meaning each number is 10 times as strong as the one before it. So a 5.0 earthquake is ten times stronger than a 4.0.
Seismic intensity scales categorize the intensity or severity of ground shaking (quaking) at a given location, such as resulting from an earthquake.They are distinguished from seismic magnitude scales, which measure the magnitude or overall strength of an earthquake, which may, or perhaps may not, cause perceptible shaking.
The Modified Mercalli intensity scale (MM, MMI, or MCS) measures the effects of an earthquake at a given location. This is in contrast with the seismic magnitude usually reported for an earthquake. Magnitude scales measure the inherent force or strength of an earthquake – an event occurring at greater or lesser depth. (The "M w" scale is ...
While the "Richter" and moment magnitude scales are similar, they do differ, particularly for earthquakes stronger than about M 6.5, or deeper than about 50 km. In general: where any source specifies magnitude on a scale other than "Richter", or uses "M" (or "m") with one or more other letters (such as ML, Mw, Ms, or mb), that can be relied on ...
The connection between seismic moment and a torque is natural in the body-force equivalent representation of seismic sources as a double-couple (a pair of force couples with opposite torques): the seismic moment is the torque of each of the two couples. Despite having the same dimensions as energy, seismic moment is not a measure of energy.
The formula to calculate surface wave magnitude is: [3] = + (), where A is the maximum particle displacement in surface waves (vector sum of the two horizontal displacements) in μm, T is the corresponding period in s (usually 20 ± 2 seconds), Δ is the epicentral distance in °, and