8/26/2023 0 Comments Moment magnitude scale formula![]() Moment Magnitude ScaleThe moment magnitude scale measures the total energy released by great earthquakes. Richter Magnitude ScaleThe Richter magnitude scale was developed in 1935 to study California earthquakes. More Earthquake Linksġ964 Alaska EarthquakeThe 1964 Alaska quake was the largest earthquake ever recorded in North America. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and earthquake had a moment magnitude between 9.1-9.3. The moment magnitude of the 1964 Alaska earthquake was 9.2. The 1960 Chile earthquake had a moment magnitude of 9.5. Scientists used these two sets of information and other data collected in the field to determine the moment magnitude of an earthquake. The size of the earthquake waves is determined by reading seismograms at reporting stations. The moment magnitude scale includes the area of the fault's rupture and the slippage along the fault to determine the size of the earthquake's moment. What scientists look at to determine magnitude ![]() When the rocks fracture slippage can occur along several hundred kilometers of the fault zone during a single event. Pressure builds in the rocks along the entire length of the subduction zone fault. Great earthquakes occur in subduction zones where a continental plate overrides an oceanic plate and the plates become locked together. For instance, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake releases 1000 times more energy than a magnitude 5.0 earthquake. Seismologists have recently shown that the magnitude of an earthquake is proportional to the energy released by an earthquake. Scientists look at the total energy released by an earthquake to determine its moment magnitude. The scale has many advantages over other earthquake scales which look at one type of ground motion. Scientists devised the scale using the moment magnitude after the 1960 Chile earthquake and the 1964 Alaska earthquake. Moment magnitude scale measures great earthquakes Seismologists studying large earthquakes report the size of the earthquake using the moment magnitude. For earthquakes in this range most news reports do not mention which scale has been used to determine the earthquakes magnitude. The Richter and moment magnitude scales have similar magnitudes if the earthquakes are between 3.0 and 7.0. When Richter and moment magnitude scales are used Damage caused by 1960 Chilean earthquake USGS
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