The moment magnitude scale (abbreviated as MMS; denoted as MW or M) is used by seismologists to measure the size of earthquakes in terms of the energy released. The magnitude is based on the seismic moment of the earthquake, which is equal to the rigidity of the Earth multiplied by the average amount of slip on the fault and the size of the area that slipped. The scale was developed in the 1970s to succeed the 1930s-era Richter magnitude scale (ML). Even though the formulae are different, the new scale retains the familiar continuum of magnitude values defined by the older one. The MMS is now the scale used to estimate magnitudes for all modern large earthquakes by the United States Geological Survey.
Read more about Moment Magnitude Scale: Definition, Comparative Energy Released By Two Earthquakes, Radiated Seismic Energy, Nuclear Explosions, Comparison With Richter Scale
Famous quotes containing the words moment, magnitude and/or scale:
“The right moment has come, which for men is the master of every deed.”
—Sophocles (497–406/5 B.C.)
“Sometimes you’re overwhelmed when a thing comes, and you do not realize the magnitude of the affair at that moment. When you get away from it, you wonder, did it really happen to you.”
—Marian Anderson (1902–1993)
“Every man needs slaves like he needs clean air. To rule is to breathe, is it not? And even the most disenfranchised get to breathe. The lowest on the social scale have their spouses or their children.”
—Albert Camus (1913–1960)