In this article we are going to discuss the magnitude and intensity of earthquake.
Earthquake size is determine by its magnitude and intensity. Therefore magnitude and intensity is a parameter of defining the size of earthquake. Magnitude is a quantitative and intensity is a qualitative measure of seismic waves causing large deformation.
Earthquake Magnitude:-
Magnitude of earthquake is a parameter used measure the amount of energy released during an earthquake. Therefore it is a quantitative measure of actual size of earthquake.
Magnitude of earthquake is same irrespective of any location whereas intensity depends upon the distance from seismic center to investigated location.
Magnitude is measure by Richter's scale:
Richter's Magnitude Scale:- This scale was proposed by Dr. Charles F. Richter. It is most globally accepted scale which is used to define size of earthquake. Richter concluded that the larger is the energy released during the earthquake, the larger is the logarithmic amplitude of seismic waves.
Richter gave a relationship between strain energy released by an earthquake and its magnitude and it is given by ( log10E = 11.4+1.5M )
Here, M= Magnitude of an earthquake, E= Energy in ergs
from above relationship it is observed that an increase in magnitude 'M' by 0.5 increases released energy by 5.5 times and increase in magnitude 'M' by 1.0 value on Richter scale indicate that about 31 times higher energy is released.
Now lets check whether Atomic bomb is powerful than Earthquake or not?
In order to make the strong assessment that which one is powerful we must have the common parameter so here the common parameter is the energy released by atomic bomb or earthquake. The one which release more energy is more powerful.
Lets take an biggest atomic activity done by America on Hiroshima (Japan) in 1945. The energy released by this atomic activity was 8x10^20 ergs and it is approximately equal to earthquake of magnitude 6.3 hence we can conclude that earthquake with magnitude more than 6.3 will be more powerful than atomic bomb. Example = Gujrat 2001 earthquake with magnitude 7.7
Earthquake Intensity:-
Intensity is basically a actual vibration set up on the earth surface due to seismic shocks. It is basically a qualitative measure of actual vibrations.
We can also say that it is measure of degree of destruction caused by an earthquake.
Intensity of an earthquake is depend upon its location from epicentre. Near the epicentre its intensity will be more and away from epicentre its intensity goes decreasing. Thus there may be many intensity values for one earthquake at different locations.
lets take an working example to understand intensity:- Suppose we have a Electric bulb with some lumen illumination as you move away from the bulb its brightness or lumen illumination decrease and it is maximum near the bulb. The same concept is followed by Earthquake intensity.
Intensity is measured by:-
1) Rossi and forel scale
2) F. Omori scale
3) MMI scale
4) MSK scale
To know more about earthquake visit below link:-
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