Richter scale
Tremor magnitude system
The Richter scale measures earthquake magnitude based on seismic wave amplitude.
Developed in the 1930s, it's logarithmic—each whole number represents roughly thirty times more energy than the one below.
A magnitude 3 quake is barely felt; magnitude 7 causes major destruction.
Though largely replaced by the moment magnitude scale, Richter remains the common term: a 6.2 on the Richter scale.
Point above seismic origin
- aftershockSmaller quake following larger
- foreshockLesser quake before larger
- fault lineTectonic boundary crack
- seismic wavesEnergy from earth movements
tremor · temblor · quake · mainshock · hypocenter · rupture · slip · plate boundary
Size or scale
- logarithmicBased on exponents
- amplitudeMaximum oscillation displacement
- intensityStrength or force level
- energyPower to do work
increment · gradation · level · degree · seismograph · seismometer · instrumentation · calibration
Involuntary rhythmic shaking
- vibrationRapid oscillating movement
- shakingRapid involuntary movement
- joltAbrupt forceful shake
- rumbleLow rolling sound
rolling · swaying · oscillation · shudder · rocking · undulation · felt · perceptible
Seismic sea surge
- destructionAct of completely ruining
- collapseSudden structural failure
- evacuationRemoval from danger
- casualtiesThose killed or wounded
emergency · relief · rescue · survivors · victims · damage · rubble · recovery
epicenter
Point above seismic origin
- aftershockSmaller quake following larger
- foreshockLesser quake before larger
- fault lineTectonic boundary crack
seismic waves · tremor · temblor · quake · mainshock · hypocenter · rupture · slip · plate boundary · subduction
magnitude
Size or scale
- logarithmicBased on exponents
- amplitudeMaximum oscillation displacement
- intensityStrength or force level
energy · increment · gradation · level · degree · seismograph · seismometer · instrumentation · calibration · reading
tremor
Involuntary rhythmic shaking
rumble · rolling · swaying · oscillation · shudder · rocking · undulation · felt · perceptible · duration
tsunami
Seismic sea surge
- destructionAct of completely ruining
- collapseSudden structural failure
- evacuationRemoval from danger
casualties · emergency · relief · rescue · survivors · victims · damage · rubble · recovery · shelter
- scalesweight, measure, balance, precision scales, beam balance
- Measurement ScalesApgar score
- earthquakesearthquake, quake, earthquakes, quakes, epicenter
- EponymsDarwinian, Alzheimer's disease, Freudian slip, cardigan, Parkinson's disease
- seismologyearthquake, earthquakes, seismograph, seismicity, seismometer
- Disaster Scaleshurricane category, category one, category four, category five, F1