Seismicity - Magnitude of Earthquakes

Question 1

Which 2 scales can be used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes?

Answer 1

Richter and Mercalli

Question 2

What do seismometers measure?

Answer 2

magnitude, amount of energy they release, duration and direction of vibrations

Question 3

When seismic records build up over time what does it allow us to look at?

Answer 3

the frequency

Question 4

What type of scale does the Richter scale use?

Answer 4

logarithmic

Question 5

For each unit increase in the Richter scale how much does the energy released increase by?

Answer 5

30 times greater

Question 6

Is the Richter Scale factually incorrect?

Answer 6

no it is factually accurate

Question 7

Are you able to make comparison with other earthquakes using the Richter scale?

Answer 7

yes

Question 8

What type of data is the Richter scale?

Answer 8

quantitative

Question 9

Does the number have much significance? (R)

Answer 9

no depends on where it occurs, there is missing information (what time, where the focus is etc)

Question 10

What does the Mercalli scale measure?

Answer 10

the intensity of the event and its impact, using observations

Question 11

How many points does the scale have? (M)

Answer 11

12

Question 12

What does the M scale tell you?

Answer 12

what your walking into

Question 13

Whats a negative of the M scale?

Answer 13

subjective

Question 14

What does the Richter scale measure?

Answer 14

magnitude of an earthquake