Earthquake energy converter
Convert moment magnitude to the energy actually released. Each whole magnitude is about 32 times more energy, not twice.
That's about the same as a strong quake. That energy could run a home for about 1,623 years.
What it means
How much energy is that?
Uses the standard relation log₁₀E = 1.5M + 4.8. Reported magnitudes vary slightly between agencies and methods.
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Your earthquake in every unit
Learn
Three things worth knowing
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One step is 32 times the energy
Magnitude 6 releases 32 times more than magnitude 5, and 1,000 times more than magnitude 4. That is why small quakes do not "relieve pressure".
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Richter, and what replaced it
Charles Richter’s 1935 scale was built for Californian instruments and saturates above magnitude 7. Moment magnitude, based on the actual fault movement, replaced it.
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Magnitude is not damage
A shallow magnitude 6 under a city is far worse than a deep magnitude 8 offshore. Depth, distance and building quality decide the harm.
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Background
About magnitude
Magnitude is logarithmic. Going up one whole number multiplies the ground shaking by 10 and the energy by about 32. A magnitude 7 releases a thousand times the energy of a magnitude 5.