he Richter Scale: Measuring the Magnitude of Earthquakes

Scientists measure earthquakes using the Richter scale. This scale, Also on This Site
invented in 1934 by California scientist Charles Richter, measures Earthquakes in History
the magnitude of an earthquake, and the result is a number from 0
to 10, as measured on a machine called a seismograph.

The scale is not a normal number scale, however; rather, it is a

logarithmic scale. This means that an earthquake that measures 2
on the Richter scale is 10 times as powerful as an earthquake that
measures 1. In addition, each whole number increase means 32
times more energy is released.

The Richter scale measures earthquakes in whole numbers and

tenths numbers. Most earthquakes register 2.5 or less and are too
small to be experienced by people. Seismographs register these quakes, though.

Scientists estimate that 900,000 of such "small" quakes occur every year. Up to 30,000 of
quakes measuring 2.5 to 5.4 occur in a year as well, and these cause minor damage and
are certainly noticed by people. The higher the number on the Richter scale, the fewer
earthquakes occur every year. Quakes registering 8.0 or higher occur, on average, only
once every 5 to 10 years.

The classes of earthquakes, according to the United States

Geological Survey, are these:
Class Magnitude
Great 8 or more
Major 7 - 7.9
Strong 6 - 6.9
Moderate 5 - 5.9
Light 4 - 4.9
Minor 3 -3.9

Difference between Richter Scale and Seismograph

Key Difference: A seismograph is any instrument that measures motions of the ground, including those of
seismic waves generated by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and other seismic sources. While, the
Richter scale is a scale, ranging from 1 to 10, for indicating the intensity of an earthquake.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, there are as many as 1.3 million earthquakes in a year
that humans can feel. This is without taking into consideration all the other small quakes that
happen everyday, which humans don’t even realize. Of these million earthquakes, the majority
take place in remote areas far from people and are often so low in intensity that most people
would not notice.

While there are many reasons for the earthquakes, ranging from meteor impacts and volcanic
eruptions, to man-made events like mine collapses and underground nuclear tests, the most
common reasons for earthquakes are the shifting of the Earth’s tectonic plates. However, rather
than what causes the earthquakes, more importance is on how strong the earthquake is, how
much damage can it cause, and how to best plan for it.

In order to figure out when the next earthquake could be, there is a device known as the
Seismograph. The seismograph or seismometer is an instrument that measures the motions of the
ground, including those of seismic waves generated by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and
other seismic sources. The records of the seismic waves helps seismologists to map the interior
of the Earth, and to locate and measure the different sources of earthquakes.

The first seismograph was designed by Zhang Heng of China's Han dynasty in the year 132 AD.
It was called “Houfeng Didong Yi”, which literally means an "instrument for measuring the
seasonal winds and the movements of the Earth" While, the device worked on the presumption
that earthquakes were caused the direction, force, and timing of the winds, it still could predict
the direction of an earthquake that occurred up to 500 km (310 mi) away.
The plans of the original Zhang Heng’s seismometer were lost over time. However, historians
and scientists have been able to recover enough information to be able to create a working
model. Nonetheless, after 1880, most seismometers were descended from those developed by the
team of John Milne, James Alfred Ewing and Thomas Gray, who worked in Japan from 1880 to
1895. After World War II, these were adapted into the widely used Press-Ewing seismometer.

A seismometer has a weight hanging on a spring. Hence, it is sensitive to up-down motions of

the earth. The spring and weight are suspended from a frame that moves along with the earthʼs
surface. As the earth moves, the relative motion between the weight and the earth can be
recorded to create the history of the earth’s motion. Changes in motion can be used to indicate
the chances and intensity of an earthquake.

However, this creates another issue: how

to adequately describe the intensity of the earthquake. To combat this problem, a scale was
developed to assign a number depending on the intensity of the earthquake. This scale was
known as the Richter magnitude scale. It assigns the earthquake a number from 1 to 10 in order
of increasing intensity.

The scale was developed in 1935 by Charles Francis Richter in partnership with Beno
Gutenberg. They both hailed from the California Institute of Technology. The scale was
originally was to be used to only in a particular study area in California, and on seismograms
recorded on only the Wood-Anderson torsion seismograph. However, eventually the scale was
developed into a worldwide accepted standard.

The Richter scale assigns the number on the basis of how much energy is released during the
earthquake. The scale is a base-10 logarithmic scale, which means that an earthquake that
measures 5.0 on the Richter scale has a shaking amplitude 10 times larger than one that measures
4.0, and corresponds to a 31.6 times larger release of energy. While the scale is usually
considered to label from 1 to 10, and 0 being the basis to which the energy is being compared,
the truth is that the scale does not actually have a lower limit. Many sensitive modern
seismographs now routinely record quakes with negative magnitudes.

The Richter magnitude scale:

Magnitude Level Category Effects Earthquakes per year

Microearthquakes, not
Less than 2.0 Micro felt, or felt rarely by Several million per year
sensitive people.

Felt slightly by some

Over one million per
2.0–2.9 Minor people. No damage to
year
buildings.

Often felt by people, but

3.0–3.9 Minor very rarely causes Over 100,000 per year
damage.

Noticeable shaking of
indoor objects and
rattling noises. Felt by
most people in the 10,000 to 15,000 per
4.0–4.9 Light
affected area. Slightly year
felt outside. Generally
causes none to minimal
damage.
 Can cause damage of
varying severity to
poorly constructed
5.0–5.9 Moderate buildings. At most, none 1,000 to 1,500 per year
to slight damage to all
other buildings. Felt by
everyone. No Casualties.

Damage to a moderate
number of well built
structures in populated
areas. Earthquake-
resistant structures
survive with slight to
moderate damage.
Poorly-designed
6.0–6.9 Strong structures receive 100 to 150 per year
moderate to severe
damage. Felt up to
hundreds of
miles/kilometers from
the epicenter. Death toll
can range from none to
25,000, depending on
location.

Causes damage to most

buildings, some to
partially or completely
collapse or receive
severe damage. Well-
designed structures are
7.0–7.9 Major likely to receive 10 to 20 per year
damage. Can be felt up
to 250 km away from
epicenter. Death toll can
range from none to
250,000, depending on
location.

8.0–8.9 Great Major damage to One per year

buildings, structures
 likely to be destroyed.
Will cause moderate to
heavy damage to sturdy
or earthquake-resistant
buildings. Damaging in
large areas. Felt in
extremely large regions.
Death toll can ranges
from 1,000 to 1 million.

Near or at total
destruction - severe
damage or collapse to all
buildings. Heavy
damage and shaking
9.0 and greater Great One per 10 to 50 years
extends to distant
locations. Permanent
changes in ground
topography. Death toll
usually over 50,000.

Comparison between Richter Scale and Seismograph:

Richter Scale Seismograph

Seismograph is any instrument

The Richter scale was developed
to assign a single number to
Description
quantify the energy that is
released during an earthquake.
that measures motions of the
ground, including those of
seismic waves generated by
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions,
and other seismic sources.

A scale, ranging from 1 to 10, for Any of various instruments for

Definition as per Dictionary.com indicating the intensity of an measuring and recording the
earthquake. vibrations of earthquakes.

Alternate names Richter magnitude scale Seismometers, seismoscopes

 First developed in 132 AD, the
modern ones are adapted from the
Developed in 1935
ones designed between 1880 and
1895.

The first seismoscope was

Charles Francis Richter in
Developed by
partnership with Beno Gutenberg
developed by Zhang Heng.
However, most modern ones are
adapted from the ones designed
by the team of John Milne, James
Alfred Ewing and Thomas Gray,
who worked in Japan from 1880
to 1895.