Magnitude

Plain Definition: A measure of the energy released by an earthquake.

Technical Description: Various scales exist (e.g., Richter, Moment Magnitude Mw). Logarithmic nature means each unit increase = ~32x more energy.

Use in Design: Used in seismic hazard assessments and ground motion scaling.

Meta Title: Earthquake Magnitude | Seismic Energy Explained

Meta Description: Learn what earthquake magnitude means and how it influences design.

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