Get Section 8 2 Measuring Earthquakes

(e) An earthquakes of magnitude 2 on Richter Scale is ten times as strong as an earthquake of magnitude 1 on the same Scale.

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake would be “so powerful that it causes widespread damage and consequently affects lives and livelihoods of all southern Californians. A catastrophe is a disaster that runs amok when a society is not prepared for the amount of disruption that occurs,” the report said.

Earthquakes can be measured in two ways. One method is based on magnitude—the amount of energy released at the earthquake source. The other is based on intensity—how much the ground shakes at a specific location.

“In terms of energy, the magnitude 7.8 that occurred is 708 times stronger than a magnitude 5.9,” he said, citing as an example an earthquake in Melbourne, Australia, in 2021, in which some minor damage was sustained to the city. The strength of earthquakes is measured on a scale known as the local magnitude scale.

The scale also has no upper limit. Learn more about how we measure earthquake magnitude....Earthquake Magnitude Scale. MagnitudeEarthquake EffectsEstimated Number Each Year7.0 to 7.9Major earthquake. Serious damage.10-158.0 or greaterGreat earthquake. Can totally destroy communities near the epicenter.One every year or two4 more rows

And a 7.8-magnitude quake is equivalent of the explosive energy created by the eruption of Mount St. Helens. It is likely to cause "large loss of life" and severe economic impact, the USGS says.

On average, Magnitude 2 and smaller earthquakes occur several hundred times a day world wide. Major earthquakes, greater than magnitude 7, happen more than once per month. "Great earthquakes", magnitude 8 and higher, occur about once a year.

8.3 Destruction from Earthquakes to structures is from landslides and ground subsidence, or the sinking of the ground triggered by vibrations.