4.3.4
Measuring Earthquakes
Measuring Earthquakes
Measuring Earthquakes
The Moment Magnitude scale is used to measure earthquake magnitude. The Mercalli scale measures the damage done by earthquakes.


The Moment Magnitude scale
The Moment Magnitude scale
- The moment magnitude scale measures the magnitude of an earthquake by measuring how much energy it releases.


Logarithmic
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.


Magnitude 1-10
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.


The Mercalli scale
The Mercalli scale
- It measures damage done and is scored from I-XII.
- It is recorded in Roman numerals.
- This scale is more likely to hide differences between LIC and HIC countries as it shows damage;
- A much smaller earthquake (in terms of magnitude) could cause total destruction in a poorly built city than in a well-built one with earthquake-proof buildings.
1Paper 1 - Changing River Environnments
1.1Characteristics of Rivers
1.2River Landforms
1.3Rivers: Opportunities & Hazards
1.4The Bradshaw Model
1.5The Drainage Basin & the Water Cycle
1.6Processes Operating in a Drainage Basin
2Paper 1 - Changing Coastal Environments
2.1Physical Processes that Shape the Coast
2.1.1Processes of Erosion
2.1.2Corrosion & Corrasion
2.1.3Transportation
2.1.4Deposition
2.1.5Longshore Drift
2.1.6Types of Waves
2.1.7Case Study: The Holderness Coast (UK)
2.1.8Case Study: The Holderness Coast - Management
2.1.9Case Study: The Holderness Coast - Defences
2.1.10Diagnostic Misconceptions - Swash & Backwash
2.2Landforms
2.3Opportunities & Hazards
2.4Tropical Storms
2.4.1Tropical Storms
2.4.2Structure of Tropical Storms
2.4.3Causes of Tropical Storms
2.4.4Effects of Tropical Storms
2.4.5Hazards of Tropical Storms
2.4.6Case Study: Hurricane Katrina - Effects
2.4.7Case Study: Hurricane Katrina - Responses
2.4.8Case Study: Cyclone Nargis - Responses
2.4.9Case Study: Cyclone Nargis
2.4.10Mathematical Skills: Weather Hazards
2.4.11Diagnostic Misconceptions - Rainfall
3Paper 1 - Changing Ecosystems
3.1Antarctic
3.2Threats to the Antarctic
3.3Tropical Rainforest
3.4Tropical Rainforest: Threats
4Paper 1 - Tectonic Hazards
4.1The Structure of the Earth
4.2The Processes of Earthquakes & Volcanoes
4.2.1Earthquakes: Processes & Characteristics
4.2.2Earthquake Hazards
4.2.3Types of Volcano
4.2.4Classification & Features
4.2.5Volcanic Hazards
4.2.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Lava
4.2.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Location of Volcanoes
4.2.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Focus vs Epicentre
4.2.9Diagnostic Misconceptions - Sliding Plates
4.3The Impacts of Tectonic Hazards
5Paper 1 - Climate Change
5.1Natural & Human Causes of Climate Change
5.2Impacts of Climate Change
5.3Responses to Climate Change
6Paper 2 - Changing Populations
6.1Populations Grow & Decline
6.2Population Structures Over Time
7Paper 2 - Changing Towns & Cities
7.1Where People Live
7.2Opportunities & Challenges of Urbanisation
8Paper 2 - Development
8.1Measuring Development
8.2Uneven Development
8.3Sustainable Development
9Paper 2 - Changing Economies
9.1Changing Employment Structures
9.2Globalisation
9.3Tourism
9.3.1Factors Leading to the Growth of Tourism
9.3.2The Butler Model
9.3.3Benefits of Tourism - Economic
9.3.4Benefits of Tourism - Social, Cultural & Env.
9.3.5Problems with Tourism - Economic
9.3.6Problems of Tourism - Social, Cultural & Env.
9.3.7Managing Tourism - Sustainability & Ecotourism
9.3.8Managing Tourism - Quotas & Tourism Hubs
9.3.9Case Study: Blackpool (UK)
9.3.10Mathematical Skills: Changing Economic World
10Paper 2 - Resource Provision
10.1Food
10.2Patterns of Food Supply & Demand
10.3Challenges of Food Supply
10.4Energy
10.5Patterns of Energy Supply & Demand
Jump to other topics
1Paper 1 - Changing River Environnments
1.1Characteristics of Rivers
1.2River Landforms
1.3Rivers: Opportunities & Hazards
1.4The Bradshaw Model
1.5The Drainage Basin & the Water Cycle
1.6Processes Operating in a Drainage Basin
2Paper 1 - Changing Coastal Environments
2.1Physical Processes that Shape the Coast
2.1.1Processes of Erosion
2.1.2Corrosion & Corrasion
2.1.3Transportation
2.1.4Deposition
2.1.5Longshore Drift
2.1.6Types of Waves
2.1.7Case Study: The Holderness Coast (UK)
2.1.8Case Study: The Holderness Coast - Management
2.1.9Case Study: The Holderness Coast - Defences
2.1.10Diagnostic Misconceptions - Swash & Backwash
2.2Landforms
2.3Opportunities & Hazards
2.4Tropical Storms
2.4.1Tropical Storms
2.4.2Structure of Tropical Storms
2.4.3Causes of Tropical Storms
2.4.4Effects of Tropical Storms
2.4.5Hazards of Tropical Storms
2.4.6Case Study: Hurricane Katrina - Effects
2.4.7Case Study: Hurricane Katrina - Responses
2.4.8Case Study: Cyclone Nargis - Responses
2.4.9Case Study: Cyclone Nargis
2.4.10Mathematical Skills: Weather Hazards
2.4.11Diagnostic Misconceptions - Rainfall
3Paper 1 - Changing Ecosystems
3.1Antarctic
3.2Threats to the Antarctic
3.3Tropical Rainforest
3.4Tropical Rainforest: Threats
4Paper 1 - Tectonic Hazards
4.1The Structure of the Earth
4.2The Processes of Earthquakes & Volcanoes
4.2.1Earthquakes: Processes & Characteristics
4.2.2Earthquake Hazards
4.2.3Types of Volcano
4.2.4Classification & Features
4.2.5Volcanic Hazards
4.2.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Lava
4.2.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Location of Volcanoes
4.2.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Focus vs Epicentre
4.2.9Diagnostic Misconceptions - Sliding Plates
4.3The Impacts of Tectonic Hazards
5Paper 1 - Climate Change
5.1Natural & Human Causes of Climate Change
5.2Impacts of Climate Change
5.3Responses to Climate Change
6Paper 2 - Changing Populations
6.1Populations Grow & Decline
6.2Population Structures Over Time
7Paper 2 - Changing Towns & Cities
7.1Where People Live
7.2Opportunities & Challenges of Urbanisation
8Paper 2 - Development
8.1Measuring Development
8.2Uneven Development
8.3Sustainable Development
9Paper 2 - Changing Economies
9.1Changing Employment Structures
9.2Globalisation
9.3Tourism
9.3.1Factors Leading to the Growth of Tourism
9.3.2The Butler Model
9.3.3Benefits of Tourism - Economic
9.3.4Benefits of Tourism - Social, Cultural & Env.
9.3.5Problems with Tourism - Economic
9.3.6Problems of Tourism - Social, Cultural & Env.
9.3.7Managing Tourism - Sustainability & Ecotourism
9.3.8Managing Tourism - Quotas & Tourism Hubs
9.3.9Case Study: Blackpool (UK)
9.3.10Mathematical Skills: Changing Economic World
10Paper 2 - Resource Provision
10.1Food
10.2Patterns of Food Supply & Demand
10.3Challenges of Food Supply
10.4Energy
10.5Patterns of Energy Supply & Demand
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