# Earthquakes: Orders of magnutude

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earthquakes-orders-of-magnutude/281795>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 27, 2004, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earthquakes-orders-of-magnutude/281795 "2004-12-27T17:45:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earthquakes-orders-of-magnutude/281795/1 "2004-12-27T17:45:14Z")

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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?

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**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earthquakes-orders-of-magnutude/281795/2 "2004-12-27T17:51:03Z")

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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](http://www.pgc.nrcan.gc.ca/seismo/eqinfo/richter.htm)

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**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2004, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earthquakes-orders-of-magnutude/281795/3 "2004-12-27T18:56:32Z")

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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.