English Explanatory Dictionary

Richter scale

English dictionary entry

Meanings

name
  1. A logarithmic scale used to express the energy released by an earthquake, each increase of 1 representing a 31-fold increase in energy, and a 10-fold increase in the measured wave amplitude.
noun
  1. A value on the Richter scale.

Pronunciation

/ˈɹɪkt.ɚ skeɪl/ En-us-Richter scale.ogg

Word forms

Richter scale the Richter scale Richter scales

Etymology

Named after American seismologist Charles Richter (1900–1985), whose name derives from German Richter (“judge”).

Related words

Fujita scale Torino scale moment magnitude scale
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