Seismic magnitude scales

magnitude of an earthquake

Seismic magnitude scales are used to describe the overall strength or "size" of an earthquake.

  1. 1 Earthquake magnitude and ground-shaking intensity
  2. 2 Magnitude scales
    1. 2.1 "Richter" magnitude scale
    2. 2.2 Other "Local" magnitude scales
      1. 2.2.1 Japan Meteorological Agency magnitude scale
    3. 2.3 Body-wave magnitude scales
      1. 2.3.1 mB scale
      2. 2.3.2 mb scale
      3. 2.3.3 mbLg scale
    4. 2.4 Surface-wave magnitude scales
    5. 2.5 Moment magnitude and energy magnitude scales
    6. 2.6 Energy class (K-class) scale
    7. 2.7 Tsunami magnitude scales
    8. 2.8 Duration and Coda magnitude scales
    9. 2.9 Macroseismic magnitude scales
    10. 2.10 Other magnitude scales

These are distinguished from seismic intensity scalesthat categorize the intensity or severity of ground shaking (quaking) caused by an earthquake at a given location.