Earthquakes by the numbers: What does magnitude mean? (opens original article in a new tab)

The article explains that earthquake magnitude measures the energy released, determined by a network of seismographs. It distinguishes magnitude from intensity, noting that magnitude is a fixed value while intensity varies by location. The USGS uses the Moment Magnitude scale instead of the Richter scale for large earthquakes.

• Magnitude measures the energy released during an earthquake.
• The USGS uses the Moment Magnitude scale for large earthquakes instead of the Richter scale.
• Intensity varies by location, while magnitude is a fixed value.
• Earthquakes are classified by magnitude into categories from minor to great.