What's the difference of a rating of 4 on the richter scale than a 3 and 2?
May 31, 2010
in
Earthquake Questions
how many orders of magnitude greater is an earthquake rated at 4 on the Richter scale than an earthquake rated at 3 and at 2
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4 comments
Luis on May 31, 2010 at 4:19 am
To answer you question…
The Richter magnitude scale, also known as the local magnitude (ML) scale, assigns a single number to quantify the amount of seismic energy released by an earthquake. It is a base-10 logarithmic scale obtained by calculating the logarithm of the combined horizontal amplitude of the largest displacement from zero on a Wood–Anderson torsion seismometer output. So, for example, an earthquake that measures 5.0 on the Richter scale has a shaking amplitude 10 times larger than one that measures 4.0. The effective limit of measurement for local magnitude ML is about 6.8.
Though still widely used, the Richter scale has been superseded by the moment magnitude scale, which gives generally similar values.
The energy release of an earthquake, which closely correlates to its destructive power, scales with the 3⁄2 power of the shaking amplitude. Thus, a difference in magnitude of 1.0 is equivalent to a factor of 31.6 ( = (101.0)(3 / 2)) in the energy released; a difference of magnitude of 2.0 is equivalent to a factor of 1000 ( = (102.0)(3 / 2) ) in the energy released.
Gary H on May 31, 2010 at 4:19 am
Each whole number is a factor of 10 so 4 is 10X 3 and 100X 2
Peter on May 31, 2010 at 4:19 am
for every number you go up, the power of the earthquake goes up by thirty. 4 is 900 times more powerful than a 2, and a 3 is thirty times more powerful than a 2
Elizabeth H on May 31, 2010 at 4:19 am
2.0 Generally not felt
2.0-2.9 Potentially Perceptible
3.0-3.9 Felt by some
4.0-4.9 Felt by most
5.0-5.9 Damaging shocks
6.0-6.9 Destructive in populous regions
7.0-7.9 Major earthquakes; inflict serious damage
8.0 Great earthquakes; cause extensive destruction near epicenter