EARTHQUAKE MAGNITUDE – ORIGIN AND UNDERSTANDING

Authors

  • Izidor Tasič Ministrstvo za okolje in prostor, Agencija RS za okolje, Urad za seizmologijo, Ljubljana
  • Renato Vidrih Ministrstvo za okolje in prostor, Agencija RS za okolje, Urad za seizmologijo, Ljubljana

Abstract

Magnitude is the measure of the size of an earthquake. It is calculated with by means of instrumental measuring of ground vibration. Although the terms connected with an earthquake event, e.g. magnitude, are used in the public media almost every day, grasping its full significance is not an easy task. The concept of magnitude was introduced in 1935 by C. F. Richter. The original Richter magnitude was based on records from a standardized short period seismometer network in southern California. Since then, the formulation has been changed and improved several times and was also renamed local magnitude. The formulation is also being applied in Slovenia for earthquakes in Slovenia or nearby.

References

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Tasič, I., 2001. Opredelitev vstopa potresnih valov lokalnega potresa, Potresi v letu 1999 (ur. R. Vidrih), Agencija RS za Okolje, Urad za seizmologijo in geologijo, Ljubljana, 83-93.

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Published

19-01-2024

Issue

No. 20 (2006): Ujma

Section

Research and development

License

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