What does the magnitude of an earthquake measure

Answer 1

The magnitude of an earthquake measures the amount of energy released during the earthquake, specifically the amount of seismic waves that are produced. This measurement is typically determined using seismographs, which record the vibrations of the ground caused by the earthquake. The magnitude is expressed on the Richter scale or another scale, such as the Moment Magnitude scale, which ranges from 0 to potentially higher numbers based on the energy released by the earthquake. A higher magnitude typically indicates a more severe earthquake.