Content Starts Here
Richter scale
Encyclopaedia Search
Richter Scale
Quantitative scale of earthquake magnitude based on the measurement of seismic waves, used to indicate the magnitude of an earthquake at its epicentre. The Richter scale is logarithmic, so an earthquake of 6.0 is ten times greater than one of 5.0. The magnitude of an earthquake differs from its intensity, measured by the Mercalli scale, which is qualitative and varies from place to place for the same earthquake. The scale is named after US seismologist Charles Richter.
An earthquake's magnitude is a function of the total amount of energy released, and each point on the Richter scale represents a thirtyfold increase in energy over the previous point. One of the greatest earthquakes ever recorded, in 1920 in Gansu, China, measured 8.6 on the Richter scale.
© Research Machines plc 2008. All rights reserved. Helicon Publishing is a division of Research Machines plc.
Advertisement starts
Advertisement ends
Related Links
St Vincent and the Grenadines Flag
Green stands for agriculture, the lush vegetation, and the enduring vitality of the population. Gold symbolizes warmth, the bright spirit of the people, and the golden sands. Blue represents the sky and sea. Effective date: 24 October 1985.
>>
Advertorial
Find out how to buy the things you've always wanted and sell the things you don't on ebay.
Font size
Mail
My account
Help
Community
Print now
Send to a friend
Related articles
Related products
