1.2.17

Measuring Earthquakes

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Measuring Earthquakes

The moment magnitude scale is used to measure earthquakes.

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Measures magnitude

  • The moment magnitude scale measures the magnitude of an earthquake by measuring how much energy it releases.
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Logarithmic

  • The scale is logarithmic.
  • This means that it goes up in tens. So 2 on the scale is 10x stronger than 1, and 3 is 10x stronger than 2.
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Magnitude 1-10

  • We have never seen an earthquake with a magnitude larger than 9.5.
  • Earthquakes with a magnitude of 7 or more often cause a lot of damage and deaths.

Jump to other topics

1The Challenge of Natural Hazards

1.1Natural Hazards

1.2Tectonic Hazards

1.3Weather Hazards

1.4Climate Change

2The Living World

3Physical Landscapes in the UK

3.1The UK Physical Landscape

3.2Coastal Landscapes in the UK

3.3River Landscapes in the UK

3.4Glacial Landscapes in the UK

4Urban Issues & Challenges

5The Changing Economic World

6The Challenge of Resource Management

6.1Resource Management

6.2Food

6.3Water

6.4Energy

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