BrendanS
Well-known member
after another earthquake nearly as strong as December's
Tsunami alert in Indonesia
- Thread starter BrendanS
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paulineb
Active member
I saw that. Hopefully, being forewarned means there won't be the tragic loss of life suffered in the last one.
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nearly as strong as December's
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A U.S. Geological Survey spokesman said an 8.2 quake is 1/10th the magnitude of the one on boxing day.
nearly as strong as December's
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A U.S. Geological Survey spokesman said an 8.2 quake is 1/10th the magnitude of the one on boxing day.
BrendanS
Well-known member
They hadn't released richter scales when I was driving back, only that it was substantial and that tsunami warnings had been issued. First report I read when I got home said Japan’s Meteorological Agency measured the quake at magnitude 8.5 -that's a pretty severe earthquake, and some large waves can be expected.
Anything over 8 is considered to be a 'great' earthquake, and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the quake had the "potential to generate a widely destructive tsunami in the ocean or seas near the earthquake."
We'll just have to wait and see.
Anything over 8 is considered to be a 'great' earthquake, and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the quake had the "potential to generate a widely destructive tsunami in the ocean or seas near the earthquake."
We'll just have to wait and see.
Riggy
Well-known member
As of 9.20 this evening the 'quake was upgraded to an 8.7 but no reports of a following tsunami as yet.....
BrendanS
Well-known member
Yes, seems the way the sea bed moved didn't set off a tsunami thankfully!
I wonder why they chose such a confusing logarithmic scale for measuring earthquakes. Just imagine a Beaufort scale where a F9 was 10 times worse than a F8.
BrendanS
Well-known member
the same reason as for any scientific use of logarithmic scales. If you are comparing wind forces, they only occur over quite a small range, so it is possible to draw linear graphs where low measurements can be plotted on the same scale as large ones.
Earthquakes however occur over such a huge range, that a graph of high level measurements, say 8 or 9 Richter, lower level earthquakes wouldn't even appear as a squiggle, making comparison difficult. By plotting on a logarithmic scales, you can compare different earthquake events (such as after shocks) on one graph.
Earthquakes however occur over such a huge range, that a graph of high level measurements, say 8 or 9 Richter, lower level earthquakes wouldn't even appear as a squiggle, making comparison difficult. By plotting on a logarithmic scales, you can compare different earthquake events (such as after shocks) on one graph.