Earthquakes: Orders of magnutude

[Johnny_L.A]

I think of an order of magnitude being ten times greater than the previous order of magnitude. For example, a 7.0 earthquake on the Richter Scale is ten times greater than a 6.0 earthquake. But ISTR reading somewhere that the numbers on the Richter Scale are 100x apart.

Which is it?

[Whack-a-Mole]

It can be a bit misleading…

The Richter scale is logarithmic, that is an increase of 1 magnitude unit represents a factor of ten times in amplitude. The seismic waves of a magnitude 6 earthquake are 10 times greater in amplitude than those of a magnitude 5 earthquake. However, in terms of energy release, a magnitude 6 earthquake is about 31 times greater than a magnitude 5.

SOURCE: http://www.pgc.nrcan.gc.ca/seismo/eqinfo/richter.htm

[John_Mace]

Part of the problem is trying to represent a comlex. multidemsional phenomenon like an earthquake by a one dimensional number. You’re never going to describe it fully in that manner.