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The Richter scale [1] (/ ˈ r ɪ k t ər /), also called the Richter magnitude scale, Richter's magnitude scale, and the Gutenberg–Richter scale, [2] is a measure of the strength of earthquakes, developed by Charles Richter in collaboration with Beno Gutenberg, and presented in Richter's landmark 1935 paper, where he called it the "magnitude scale". [3]
First, the scale is logarithmic, so that each unit represents a ten-fold increase in the amplitude of the seismic waves. [12] As the energy of a wave is proportional to A 1.5, where A denotes the amplitude, each unit of magnitude represents a 10 1.5 ≈ 32-fold increase in the seismic energy (strength) of an earthquake. [13]
Thus, a magnitude zero microearthquake has a seismic moment of approximately 1.1 × 10 9 N⋅m, while the Great Chilean earthquake of 1960, with an estimated moment magnitude of 9.4–9.6, had a seismic moment between 1.4 × 10 23 N⋅m and 2.8 × 10 23 N⋅m. Seismic moment magnitude (M wg or Das Magnitude Scale ) and moment magnitude (M w) scales
In Taiwan, the seismic intensity scale used is a 10-point system similar to Japan’s, known as the Central Weather Administration seismic intensity scale. [51] Prior to this, Taiwan had adopted a scale identical to Japan's pre-September 1996 system, which had been established on August 1, 2000.
Magnitude scales measure the inherent force or strength of an earthquake – an event occurring at greater or lesser depth. (The "M w" scale is widely used.) The MM scale measures intensity of shaking, at any particular location, on the surface. It was developed from Giuseppe Mercalli's Mercalli intensity scale of 1902.
Gutenberg–Richter law fitted to the aftershocks of the August 2016 Central Italy earthquake, during the Aug 22 – Sep 1 period. Notice that the linear fit fails at the upper and lower end, due to lack of registered events. Since the recording period is only 10 days, events of magnitude greater than 6 has not yet appeared.
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.
Earthquake modification techniques and modern building codes are designed to prevent total destruction of buildings for earthquakes of no greater than 8.5 on the Richter Scale. [4] Although the Richter Scale is referenced, the localized shaking intensity is one of the largest factors to be considered in building resiliency.