What does the Richter Scale measure in relation to earthquakes?

The Richter Scale measures the magnitude of an earthquake, which quantifies the amount of energy released at the source of an earthquake. This scale provides a numerical value, allowing for consistent comparisons between different earthquakes regardless of their distance from the measurement location.

The Richter Scale calculates magnitude from the amplitude of seismic waves recorded by seismographs. It is a logarithmic scale, meaning that each whole number increase on the scale represents a tenfold increase in measured amplitude and roughly 31.6 times more energy release. This characteristic allows the scale to effectively communicate the differences in strength between earthquakes.

Understanding the magnitude is crucial for assessing potential damage, helping in disaster preparedness and response planning. It serves as a primary basis for alerting communities about the potential risk from an earthquake event. Magnitude measurement differs from other aspects of earthquakes, such as the depth of focus, duration of tremors, or energy release, which refer to distinct characteristics of seismic events.