Richter scale measures earthquake magnitude because it provides an objective measure of the energy an earthquake releases. 2

The scale quantifies the amplitude of seismic waves recorded by seismographs, which directly correlates with the energy released during the quake. 1 Larger amplitudes indicate more powerful earthquakes. 1

The Richter scale is logarithmic, meaning that each whole number increase on the scale represents a tenfold increase in amplitude of the seismic waves and approximately 31,6 times more energy release. 13

This uniformity is crucial for comparing earthquakes from different times and locations. 4 By quantifying the energy released, the scale helps assess potential damage, plan emergency responses, and design buildings and infrastructure that can withstand seismic forces. 4