earthquake

vocabulary

100

The size of an earthquake, or amount of energy released, measured by the Richter or Moment Magnitude scales

Magnitude

200

The strength of shaking at a specific location, often measured by the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale.

Intensity

300

A fracture in the Earth's crust where tectonic plates move.

fault

400

The exact point inside the Earth where the earthquake rupture starts.

Hypocenter/Focus

500

Smaller earthquakes that follow the mainshock.

Aftershock 

places where it happens

100

The first 9.0 ever instrumentally recorded, generating 43-foot waves locally.

Kamchatka, Russia (1952)

200

Shifted the Earth on its axis by up to 25cm and caused the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Tōhoku, Japan (2011)

300

Triggered the "Boxing Day Tsunami," the worst natural disaster of the 21st century, affecting 14 countries.

Sumatra, Indonesia (2004) 

400

The largest in U.S. history. It lasted nearly five minutes and caused massive ground deformation.

Prince William Sound, Alaska (1964)

500

The strongest ever measured. It triggered a global tsunami and left 2 million people homeless

Valdivia, Chile (1960)

measurement

100

What is the Richter Scale?

Scale used to measure the magnitude of an earthquake.

200

Scale that measures the intensity and damage caused by an earthquake.

What is the Mercalli Scale?

300

What is magnitude?

The numerical measurement that represents the size and energy of an earthquake.