Consider the following statements:
- The Richter scale is logarithmic and an increase of one unit represents a tenfold increase in amplitude.
- Each successive integer on the Richter scale represents about 100 times more energy release.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct
- The Richter (local) magnitude scale is logarithmic, and each increase of one whole number represents a tenfold increase in the amplitude of seismic waves recorded on a seismogram.
Statement 2 is incorrect
- The energy released does not increase by 100 times for each unit increase in magnitude. Instead, a one-unit rise corresponds to roughly a 32-fold increase in seismic energy. The common misconception arises from confusing amplitude, which increases tenfold, with energy, which increases by about thirty-two times per magnitude step.
