ScienceEarthquakes

One more magnitude on the earthquake scale means

≈32×

More
energy

Each whole number on the scale releases about 32 times the energy of the one below it. The shaking itself is about 10 times larger.

10×bigger shaking per step

32×more energy per step

Bar heights show the steps, not true size. Two steps up is about 1,000× the energy.

More answers

ScienceRead now
Did a supervolcano nearly wipe out humanity?
Probably not. The evidence doesn’t support a global crash.
ScienceRead now
What does +1 magnitude mean?
One step up the earthquake scale is about 32 times the energy.
TravelRead now
EES or ETIAS: which is which?
One is a check at the border. The other isn’t live yet.

Three explainers are live. More are being written. Every one starts with the answer.