Richter scale

A logarithmic scale devised by Charles F. Richter to estimate earthquake magnitude from seismic-wave amplitudes recorded by seismographs. Each whole-number increase represents ten times the wave amplitude.

Local magnitude: An earthquake magnitude measure based on the logarithm of maximum seismic-wave amplitude, corrected for distance. Richter’s original scale is the local-magnitude scale, designed for nearby southern California earthquakes.
Charles Francis Richter: An American seismologist who developed the local-magnitude scale with Beno Gutenberg. Richter devised the scale and gave it the name by which it became widely known.
Moment magnitude scale: A logarithmic earthquake magnitude scale based on seismic moment, applicable across a broad range of earthquake sizes. It avoids the saturation that limits Richter-style magnitudes for large earthquakes.
Earthquake early warning system: A system that detects an earthquake’s initial waves and sends alerts before stronger shaking arrives. Magnitude estimates can help characterize an event, though early alerts rely on rapid measurements.
Seismograph: An instrument that detects and records ground motion caused by earthquakes and other vibrations. Richter magnitude is calculated from amplitudes recorded by seismographs.
Beno Gutenberg: A German-American seismologist whose research shaped modern understanding of Earth’s interior and earthquakes. Gutenberg collaborated with Richter on the magnitude scale and its development.
Surface-wave magnitude: An earthquake magnitude measure derived from the amplitude of surface waves. It is a distinct amplitude-based measure used especially for distant earthquakes.
Earthquake catalog: A systematic record of earthquakes, typically including their locations, times, and magnitudes. Magnitude scales let catalogs compare earthquake sizes across recorded events.
Seismic wave: A wave of energy that travels through or along Earth after a sudden release of energy. The scale uses seismic-wave amplitudes as its measurement input.
California Institute of Technology: A private research university in Pasadena, California, known for science and engineering. Richter and Gutenberg developed their scale while working at Caltech.

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