View source for Moment magnitude scale

{{Short description|Measure of earthquake size, in terms of the energy released}}
{{For|an overview of different magnitude scales|Seismic magnitude scales}}
{{Earthquakes}}
The '''moment magnitude scale''' ('''MMS'''; denoted explicitly with '''{{M|w}}''' or '''Mwg''', and generally implied with use of a single '''M''' for magnitude<ref>These are normally not bolded. In the technical literature a single bolded "'''M'''" – with or without italicization – is used for several related concepts.{{example needed|date=December 2019}}</ref>) is a measure of an [[earthquake]]'s magnitude ("size" or strength) based on its [[seismic moment]]. '''{{M|w}}''' was defined in a 1979 paper by [[Thomas C. Hanks]] and [[Hiroo Kanamori]]. Similar to the [[local magnitude scale|local magnitude/Richter scale]] ({{M|L}}) defined by [[Charles Francis Richter]] in 1935, it uses a [[logarithmic scale]]; small earthquakes have approximately the same magnitudes on both scales. Despite the difference, news media often use the term "Richter scale" when referring to the moment magnitude scale.

Moment magnitude ({{M|w}}) is considered the authoritative magnitude scale for ranking earthquakes by size.<ref>{{Harvnb|Bormann|Wendt|Di Giacomo|2013|p=86}}.</ref> It is more directly related to the energy of an earthquake than other scales, and does not saturate{{snd}}that is, it does not underestimate magnitudes as other scales do in certain conditions.<ref>{{Harvnb|Bormann|Wendt|Di Giacomo|2013|p=18}}.</ref> It has become the standard scale used by seismological authorities like the [[United States Geological Survey]]<ref name="USGSpolicy2002">The "USGS Earthquake Magnitude Policy" for reporting earthquake magnitudes to the public as formulated by the ''USGS Earthquake Magnitude Working Group'' was implemented January 18, 2002, and posted at https://earthquake.usgs.gov/aboutus/docs/020204mag_policy.php. That page was removed following a web redesign; a copy is archived at the [https://web.archive.org/web/20160428095841/http://earthquake.usgs.gov:80/aboutus/docs/020204mag_policy.php Internet Archive].</ref> for reporting large earthquakes (typically M > 4), replacing the local magnitude ({{M|L}}) and [[surface-wave magnitude]] ({{M|s}}) scales. [[#Subtypes of Mw|Subtypes]] of the moment magnitude scale ({{M|ww}}, etc.) reflect different ways of estimating the seismic moment.

== History ==

=== Richter scale: the original measure of earthquake magnitude ===
{{Main|Richter magnitude scale}}

At the beginning of the twentieth century, very little was known about how earthquakes happen, how [[seismic wave]]s are generated and propagate through the Earth's crust, and what information they carry about the earthquake rupture process; the first magnitude scales were therefore [[empirical evidence|empirical]].<ref name="Miyake 2017 112">{{Harvnb|Miyake|2017|p=112}}.</ref> The initial step in determining earthquake magnitudes empirically came in 1931 when the Japanese seismologist [[Kiyoo Wadati]] showed that the maximum amplitude of an earthquake's seismic waves diminished with distance at a certain rate.<ref>{{Harvnb|Suzuki|2001|p=121}}. See also Figure 2-22 in {{Harvnb|Richter|1958}} (copy in {{Harvnb|Bormann|Wendt|Di Giacomo|2013|p=60}}), which replicates Wadati's curves.</ref> [[Charles F. Richter]] then worked out how to adjust for epicentral distance (and some other factors) so that the [[logarithm]] of the amplitude of the seismograph trace could be used as a measure of "magnitude" that was internally consistent and corresponded roughly with estimates of an earthquake's energy.<ref>{{Harvnb|Gutenberg|Richter|1956a}}.</ref> He established a reference point and the ten-fold (exponential) scaling of each degree of magnitude, and in 1935 published what he called the "magnitude scale", now called the [[local magnitude scale]], labeled {{M|l}}.<ref>{{Harvnb|Richter|1935}}.</ref> (This scale is also known as the ''Richter scale'', but news media sometimes use that term indiscriminately to refer to other similar scales.)

The local magnitude scale was developed on the basis of shallow (~{{cvt|15|km|sigfig=1}} deep), moderate-sized earthquakes at a distance of approximately {{cvt|100|to|600|km}}, conditions where the surface waves are predominant. At greater depths, distances, or magnitudes the surface waves are greatly reduced, and the local magnitude scale underestimates the magnitude, a problem called ''saturation''. Additional scales were developed<ref>See {{Harvnb|Bormann|Saul|2009}} for an overview.</ref> – a surface-wave magnitude scale ({{m|s|link=y}}) by [[Beno Gutenberg]] in 1945,<ref>{{Harvnb|Gutenberg|1945a}}.</ref> a body-wave magnitude scale ({{m|B|link=y}}) by Gutenberg and Richter in 1956,<ref>{{Harvnb|Gutenberg|1945b}}, {{Harvnb|Gutenberg|Richter|1956b}}.</ref> and a number of variants<ref>See [[Seismic magnitude scales]].</ref> – to overcome the deficiencies of the {{M|l}} scale, but all are subject to saturation. A particular problem was that the {{m|s}} scale (which in the 1970s was the preferred magnitude scale) saturates around {{m|s|8.0}} and therefore underestimates the energy release of "great" earthquakes<ref>{{Harvnb|Kanamori|1977|p=2981}}.</ref> such as the [[1960 Chilean Earthquake|1960 Chilean]] and [[1964 Alaska earthquake|1964 Alaskan]] earthquakes. These had {{m|s}} magnitudes of 8.5 and 8.4 respectively but were notably more powerful than other M 8 earthquakes; their moment magnitudes were closer to 9.6 and 9.3, respectively.<ref>{{Short-isc|EHB|879136}} {{short-isc|EHB|869809}}</ref>

=== Single couple or double couple ===
The study of earthquakes is challenging as the source events cannot be observed directly, and it took many years to develop the mathematics for understanding what the seismic waves from an earthquake can tell about the source event. An early step was to determine how different systems of forces might generate seismic waves equivalent to those observed from earthquakes.<ref>{{Harvnb|Miyake|2017|pp=112–113}}; {{Harvnb|Stauder|1962|p=39}}.</ref>

The simplest force system is a single force acting on an object. If it has sufficient strength to overcome any resistance it will cause the object to move ("translate"). A pair of forces, acting on the same "line of action" but in opposite directions, will cancel; if they cancel (balance) exactly there will be no net translation, though the object will experience stress, either tension or compression. If the pair of forces are offset, acting along parallel but separate lines of action, the object experiences a rotational force, or [[torque]]. In [[mechanics]] (the branch of physics concerned with the interactions of forces) this model is called a ''[[couple (mechanics)|couple]]'', also ''simple couple'' or ''single couple''. If a second couple of equal and opposite magnitude is applied their torques cancel; this is called a ''double couple''.<ref name="Miyake 2017 115">{{Harvnb|Miyake|2017|p=115}}.</ref> A double couple can be viewed as "equivalent to a pressure and tension acting simultaneously at right angles".<ref>{{Harvnb|Ben-Menahem|1995|p=1210}}; {{Harvnb|Maruyama|1963|p=484}}.</ref>

{{citation needed span|text=The single couple and double couple models are important in seismology because each can be used to derive how the seismic waves generated by an earthquake event should appear in the "far field" (that is, at distance). Once that relation is understood it can be inverted to use the earthquake's observed seismic waves to determine its other characteristics, including fault geometry and seismic moment.|date=July 2022}}

In 1923 Hiroshi Nakano showed that certain aspects of seismic waves could be explained in terms of a double couple model.<ref>{{Harvnb|Ben-Menahem|1995|p=1210}}.</ref> This led to a three-decade-long controversy over the best way to model the seismic source: as a single couple, or a double couple.<ref name="Miyake 2017 115"/> While Japanese seismologists favored the double couple, most seismologists favored the single couple.<ref>{{Harvnb|Miyake|2017|p=115}}. See {{Harvnb|Byerly|1960}} for a contemporary account of why many seismologists favored a single couple model.</ref> Although the single couple model had some shortcomings, it seemed more intuitive, and there was a belief – mistaken, as it turned out – that the [[elastic rebound theory]] for explaining why earthquakes happen required a single couple model.<ref>{{Harvnb|Miyake|2017|pp=116, 117}}.</ref> In principle these models could be distinguished by differences in the radiation patterns of their [[S waves]], but the quality of the observational data was inadequate for that.<ref>{{Harvnb|Pujol|2003b|p=164}}.</ref>

{{citation needed span|text=The debate ended when Maruyama (1963), Haskell (1964), and Burridge and Knopoff (1964) showed that if earthquake ruptures are modeled as dislocations the pattern of seismic radiation can always be matched with an equivalent pattern derived from a double couple,|date=July 2022}} but not from a single couple.<ref>{{Harvnb|Pujol|2003b|p=165}}; {{Harvnb|Miyake|2017|pp=117–118}}.</ref> This was confirmed as better and more plentiful data coming from the [[World-Wide Standard Seismograph Network]] (WWSSN) permitted closer analysis of seismic waves. Notably, in 1966 Keiiti Aki showed that the seismic moment of the 1964 Niigata earthquake as calculated from the seismic waves on the basis of a double couple was in reasonable agreement with the seismic moment calculated from the observed physical dislocation.<ref>{{Harvnb|Aki|1966b|p=84}}; {{Harvnb|Pujol|2003b|p=167}}.</ref>

=== Dislocation theory ===
A double couple model suffices to explain an earthquake's far-field pattern of seismic radiation, but tells us very little about the nature of an earthquake's source mechanism or its physical features.<ref>{{Harvnb|Julian|Miller|Foulger|1998|loc= §2.2.1}}.</ref> While slippage along a fault was theorized as the cause of earthquakes (other theories included movement of magma, or sudden changes of volume due to phase changes<ref>{{Harvnb|Miyake|2017|pp=114, 117}}; {{Harvnb|Maruyama|1963|p=483}}.</ref>), observing this at depth was not possible, and understanding what could be learned about the source mechanism from the seismic waves requires an understanding of the source mechanism.<ref name="Miyake 2017 112"/>

Modeling the physical process by which an earthquake generates seismic waves required much theoretical development of [[dislocation|dislocation theory]], first formulated by the Italian [[Vito Volterra]] in 1907, with further developments by [[Augustus Edward Hough Love|E. H. Love]] in 1927.<ref>{{Harvnb|Miyake|2017|p=117}}.</ref> More generally applied to problems of stress in materials,<ref>{{Harvnb|Steketee|1958b|pp=1168–1169}}.</ref> an extension by [[Frank Nabarro|F. Nabarro]] in 1951 was recognized by the Russian geophysicist A. V. Vvedenskaya as applicable to earthquake faulting.<ref>{{Harvnb|Stauder|1962|p=42}}; {{Harvnb|Aki|Richards|2002|p=48}}.</ref> In a series of papers starting in 1956 she and other colleagues used dislocation theory to determine part of an earthquake's focal mechanism, and to show that a dislocation – a rupture accompanied by slipping – was indeed equivalent to a double couple.<ref>{{Harvnb|Honda|1962|pp=32, 65}}, and see bibliography; {{Harvnb|Ben-Menahem|1995|p=1212}}; {{Harvnb|Udías|1991|p=90}}; {{Harvnb|Maruyama|1963|p=467}}.</ref>

In a pair of papers in 1958, J. A. Steketee worked out how to relate dislocation theory to geophysical features.<ref>{{Harvnb|Miyake|2017|p=467}}; {{Harvs|nb|last=Steketee|year=1958a|year2=1958b}}.</ref> Numerous other researchers worked out other details,<ref>{{Harvnb|Udías|1991}} provides a partial overview.</ref> culminating in a general solution in 1964 by Burridge and Knopoff, which established the relationship between double couples and the theory of elastic rebound, and provided the basis for relating an earthquake's physical features to seismic moment.<ref>{{Harvnb|Pujol|2003b|pp=165, 167}}; {{Harvnb|Miyake|2017|p=118}}.</ref>

=== Seismic moment ===
''[[Seismic moment]]'' – symbol {{M|0}} – is a measure of the fault slip and area involved in the earthquake. Its value is the torque of each of the two force couples that form the earthquake's equivalent double-couple.<ref>{{Harvnb|Bormann|Wendt|Di Giacomo|2013|p=14}}.</ref> (More precisely, it is the [[Scalar (mathematics)|scalar]] magnitude of the second-order [[moment tensor]] that describes the force components of the double-couple.<ref>{{Harvnb|Aki|1966b|p=73}}; {{Harvnb|Kassaras|Kapetanidis|2018|p=410}}.</ref>) Seismic moment is measured in units of [[Newton meters]] (N·m) or [[Joules]], or (in the older [[CGS]] system) dyne-centimeters (dyn-cm).<ref>{{Harvnb|Beroza|Kanamori|2015|p=5}}.</ref>

The first calculation of an earthquake's seismic moment from its seismic waves was by [[Keiiti Aki]] for the [[1964 Niigata earthquake]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Dziewonski|Chou|Woodhouse|1981|p=2826}}; {{Harvnb|Aki|1966b}}.</ref> He did this two ways.  First, he used data from distant stations of the [[WWSSN]] to analyze long-period (200 second) seismic waves (wavelength of about 1,000 kilometers) to determine the magnitude of the earthquake's equivalent double couple.<ref>{{Harvnb|Aki|1966a|pp=24, 36}}.</ref> Second, he drew upon the work of Burridge and Knopoff on dislocation to determine the amount of slip, the energy released, and the stress drop (essentially how much of the potential energy was released).<ref>{{Harvnb|Aki|1966a|p=24}}.</ref> In particular, he derived an equation that relates an earthquake's seismic moment to its physical parameters:

::<big>{{math|''M''{{ssub|0}} {{=}} ''&mu;u&#772;S''}}</big>

with {{mvar|&mu;}} being the rigidity (or resistance to moving) of a fault with a surface area of {{mvar|S}} over an average dislocation (distance) of {{mvar|u&#772;}}. (Modern formulations replace {{mvar|u&#772;S}} with the equivalent {{mvar|D&#772;A}}, known as the "geometric moment" or "potency".<ref>{{Harvnb|Bormann|Wendt|Di Giacomo|2013|p=12}}, equation 3.1.</ref>) By this equation the ''moment'' determined from the double couple of the seismic waves can be related to the moment calculated from knowledge of the surface area of fault slippage and the amount of slip. In the case of the Niigata earthquake the dislocation estimated from the seismic moment reasonably approximated the observed dislocation.<ref>{{Harvnb|Aki|1966b|p=84}}.</ref>

Seismic moment is a measure of the [[work (physics)|work]] (more precisely, the [[torque]]) that results in inelastic (permanent) displacement or distortion of the Earth's crust.<ref>{{Harvnb|Bormann|Wendt|Di Giacomo|2013|p=14}}; {{Harvnb|Bormann|Di Giacomo|2011|p=412}}.</ref> It is related to the total energy released by an earthquake. However, the power or potential destructiveness of an earthquake depends (among other factors) on how much of the total energy is converted into seismic waves.<ref>{{Harvnb|Bormann|Wendt|Di Giacomo|2013|pp=39–40}}.</ref> This is typically 10% or less of the total energy, the rest being expended in fracturing rock or overcoming friction (generating heat).<ref>{{Harvnb|Bormann|Wendt|Di Giacomo|2013|p=7}}.</ref>

Nonetheless, seismic moment is regarded as the fundamental measure of earthquake size,<ref>{{Harvnb|Deichmann|2006|p=1268}}.<!-- 0 --></ref> representing more directly than other parameters the physical size of an earthquake.<ref>{{Harvnb|Abe|1982|p=322}}.</ref> As early as 1975 it was considered "one of the most reliably determined instrumental earthquake source parameters".<ref>{{Harvnb|Kanamori|Anderson|1975|p=1076}}.</ref>

=== Introduction of an energy-motivated magnitude ''M''<sub>w</sub> ===

Most earthquake magnitude scales suffered from the fact that they only provided a comparison of the amplitude of waves produced at a standard distance and frequency band; it was difficult to relate these magnitudes to a physical property of the earthquake. Gutenberg and Richter suggested that radiated energy E<sub>s</sub> could be estimated as

:<math>\log_{10}E_s\approx4.8+1.5M_S </math>,

(in Joules). Unfortunately, the duration of many very large earthquakes was longer than 20 seconds, the period of the surface waves used in the measurement of {{M|s}}. This meant that giant earthquakes such as the 1960 Chilean earthquake (M 9.5) were only assigned an {{M|s|8.2}}. [[Caltech]] seismologist [[Hiroo Kanamori]]<ref>{{Harvnb|Kanamori|1977}}.</ref> recognized this deficiency and took the simple but important step of defining a magnitude based on estimates of radiated energy, {{M|w}}, where the "w" stood for work (energy):
 
:<math> M_w=2/3\log_{10}E_s-3.2 </math>

Kanamori recognized that measurement of radiated energy is technically difficult since it involves the integration of wave energy over the entire frequency band. To simplify this calculation, he noted that the lowest frequency parts of the spectrum can often be used to estimate the rest of the spectrum. The lowest frequency [[asymptote]] of a seismic spectrum is characterized by the [[seismic moment]], {{M|0}}. Using an approximate relation between radiated energy and seismic moment (which assumes stress drop is complete and ignores fracture energy),

:<math>E_s\approx M_0/(2\times10^4)  </math>

(where '''E''' is in Joules and {{M|0}} is in N<math> \cdot </math>m), Kanamori approximated {{M|w}} by

:<math> M_w=(\log_{10}M_0-9.1)/1.5 </math>

=== Moment magnitude scale ===

The formula above made it much easier to estimate the energy-based magnitude {{m|w}}, but it changed the fundamental nature of the scale into a moment magnitude scale. [[USGS]] seismologist [[Thomas C. Hanks]] noted that Kanamori's {{M|w}} scale was very similar to a relationship between {{M|L}} and {{M|0}} that was reported by {{Harvtxt|Thatcher|Hanks|1973}}

:<math> M_L\approx(\log_{10}M_0-9.0)/1.5 </math>

{{Harvtxt|Hanks|Kanamori|1979}} combined their work to define a new magnitude scale based on estimates of seismic moment

:<math> M=(\log_{10}M_0-9.05)/1.5 </math>

where <math> M_0 </math> is defined in newton meters (N·m).

== Current use ==
<!-- This section is poorly written mish-mash of un-cited details. I am inclined to delete it. -JJ -->
Moment magnitude is now the most common measure of earthquake size for medium to large earthquake magnitudes,<ref>{{Harvnb|Boyle|2008|p=}}.</ref>{{scientific citation needed|date=March 2019}} but in practice, seismic moment ({{M|0}}), the seismological parameter it is based on, is not measured routinely for smaller quakes. For example, the [[United States Geological Survey]] does not use this scale for earthquakes with a magnitude of less than 3.5,{{citation needed|date=March 2019}} which includes the great majority of quakes.

Popular press reports most often deal with significant earthquakes larger than {{M|.|~ 4}}. For these events, the preferred magnitude is the moment magnitude {{M|w}}, not Richter's local magnitude {{m|l}}.<ref>{{Harvnb|Bormann|Wendt|Di Giacomo|2013|p=86}}</ref><ref name="USGSpolicy2002" />

== Definition ==
The symbol for the moment magnitude scale is {{m|w}}, with the subscript "w" meaning [[mechanical work]] accomplished. The moment magnitude {{M|w}} is a [[dimensionless number|dimensionless value]] defined by [[Hiroo Kanamori]]<ref name=":0">{{Harvnb|Kanamori|1977|p=}}.</ref> as

:<math>M_\mathrm{w} = {\frac{2}{3}}\log_{10}(M_0) - 10.7,</math>

where {{M|0}} is the seismic moment in [[dyne]]⋅cm (10<sup>−7</sup>&nbsp;N⋅m).<ref name=":1">{{Harvnb|Hanks|Kanamori|1979|p=}}.</ref> The constant values in the equation are chosen to achieve consistency with the magnitude values produced by earlier scales, such as the local magnitude and the surface wave magnitude.  Thus, a magnitude zero [[microearthquake]] has a seismic moment of approximately {{val|1.1e9|u=N⋅m}}, while the [[1960 Valdivia earthquake|Great Chilean earthquake]] of 1960, with an estimated moment magnitude of 9.4–9.6, had a seismic moment between {{val|1.4e23|u=N⋅m}} and {{val|2.8e23|u=N⋅m}}. <!-- ** Question whether the second instance of Mw above should be seismic moment {{m|0}}. -->

'''<big>Seismic moment magnitude (''M'' <sub>wg</sub> or Das Magnitude Scale ) and moment magnitude (''M'' <sub>w</sub>) scales</big>'''

To understand the magnitude scales based on ''M''<sub>o</sub> detailed background of ''M''<sub>wg</sub> and ''M''<sub>w</sub> scales is given below.

'''''M''<sub>w</sub> scale'''

[[Hiroo Kanamori]]<ref name=":0" /> defined a magnitude scale (Log ''W''<sub>0</sub> = 1.5 ''M''<sub>w</sub> + 11.8, where ''W''<sub>0</sub> is the minimum strain energy) for great earthquakes using Gutenberg Richter Eq. (1).

Log Es = 1.5 Ms + 11.8                                                                                     (A)

[[Hiroo Kanamori]]<ref name=":0" /> used ''W''<sub>0</sub> in place of ''E''<sub>s</sub> (dyn.cm) and consider a constant term (''W''<sub>0</sub>/''M''<sub>o</sub> = 5 × 10<sup>−5</sup>) in Eq. (A) and estimated ''M''<sub>s</sub> and denoted as ''M''<sub>w</sub> (dyn.cm). The energy Eq. (A) is derived by substituting ''m'' = 2.5 + 0.63 M in the energy equation Log ''E'' = 5.8 + 2.4 m (Richter 1958), where ''m'' is the Gutenberg unified magnitude and ''M'' is a least squares approximation to the magnitude determined from surface wave magnitudes. After replacing the ratio of seismic Energy (''E'') and Seismic Moment (''M''<sub>o</sub>), i.e., ''E''/''M''<sub>o</sub> = 5 × 10<sup>−5</sup>, into the Gutenberg–Richter energy magnitude Eq. (A), Hanks and Kanamori<ref name=":1" /> provided Eq. (B):

Log M0 = 1.5 Ms + 16.1                                                                                   (B)

Note that Eq. (B) was already derived by [[Hiroo Kanamori]]<ref name=":0" /> and termed it as ''M''<sub>w</sub>. Eq. (B) was based on large earthquakes; hence, in order to validate Eq. (B) for intermediate and smaller earthquakes, Hanks and Kanamori (1979) compared this Eq. (B) with Eq. (1) of Percaru and Berckhemer (1978) for the magnitude 5.0 ≤ ''M''<sub>s</sub> ≤ 7.5 (Hanks and Kanamori 1979). Note that Eq. (1) of Percaru and Berckhemer (1978) for the magnitude range 5.0 ≤ ''M''<sub>s</sub> ≤ 7.5 is not reliable due to the inconsistency of defined magnitude range (moderate to large earthquakes defined as ''M''<sub>s</sub> ≤ 7.0 and ''M''<sub>s</sub> = 7–7.5) and scarce data in lower magnitude range (≤ 7.0) which rarely represents the global seismicity (e.g., see Figs. 1A, B, 4 and Table 2 of Percaru and Berckhemer 1978). Furthermore, Equation (1) of Percaru and Berckhemer 1978) is only valid for (≤ 7.0).<ref>{{harvnb|Das|Menesis|Urrutia|2023}}</ref>

== Relations between seismic moment, potential energy released and radiated energy ==
Seismic moment is not a direct measure of energy changes during an earthquake. The relations between seismic moment and the energies involved in an earthquake depend on parameters that have large uncertainties and that may vary between earthquakes. Potential energy is stored in the crust in the form of [[elastic energy]] due to built-up [[Stress (physics)|stress]] and [[gravitational energy]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Kostrov|1974|p=}}; {{Harvnb|Dahlen|1977|p=}}.</ref> During an earthquake, a portion <math>\Delta W</math> of this stored energy is transformed into
* energy dissipated <math>E_f</math> in frictional weakening and inelastic deformation in rocks by processes such as the creation of cracks
* heat <math>E_h</math>
* radiated seismic energy <math>E_s</math>

The potential energy drop caused by an earthquake is related approximately to its seismic moment by

:<math>\Delta W \approx \frac{\overline\sigma}{\mu} M_0</math>

where <math>\overline\sigma</math> is the average of the ''absolute'' [[shear stress]]es on the fault before and after the earthquake (e.g., equation 3 of {{Harvnb|Venkataraman|Kanamori|2004|p=}}) and <math>\mu</math> is the average of the [[shear modulus|shear moduli]] of the rocks that constitute the fault. Currently, there is no technology to measure absolute stresses at all depths of interest, nor method to estimate it accurately, and <math>\overline\sigma</math> is thus poorly known. It could vary highly from one earthquake to another. Two earthquakes with identical <math>M_0</math> but different <math>\overline\sigma</math> would have released different <math>\Delta W</math>.

The radiated energy caused by an earthquake is approximately related to seismic moment by

:<math> E_\mathrm{s} \approx \eta_R \frac{\Delta\sigma_s}{2\mu} M_0 </math>

where <math>\eta_R = E_s /(E_s+E_f)</math> is radiated efficiency and <math>\Delta\sigma_s</math> is the static stress drop, i.e., the difference between shear stresses on the fault before and after the earthquake (e.g., from equation 1 of {{Harvnb|Venkataraman|Kanamori|2004|p=}}). These two quantities are far from being constants. For instance, <math>\eta_R</math> depends on rupture speed; it is close to 1 for regular earthquakes but much smaller for slower earthquakes such as [[tsunami earthquake]]s and [[slow earthquake]]s. Two earthquakes with identical <math>M_0</math> but different <math>\eta_R</math> or <math>\Delta\sigma_s</math> would have radiated different <math>E_\mathrm{s}</math>.

Because <math>E_\mathrm{s}</math> and <math>M_0</math> are fundamentally independent properties of an earthquake source, and since <math>E_\mathrm{s}</math> can now be computed more directly and robustly than in the 1970s, introducing a separate magnitude associated to radiated energy was warranted. Choy and Boatwright defined in 1995 the ''energy magnitude''<ref>{{Harvnb|Choy|Boatwright|1995|p=}}</ref>

: <math>M_\mathrm{E} =  \textstyle{\frac{2}{3}}\log_{10}E_\mathrm{s} -3.2</math>

where <math>E_\mathrm{s}</math> is in J (N·m).

== Comparative energy released by two earthquakes ==

Assuming the values of {{mvar|&sigma;&#772;/&mu;}} are the same for all earthquakes, one can consider {{M|w}} as a measure of the potential energy change &Delta;''W'' caused by earthquakes. Similarly, if one assumes <math>\eta_R \Delta\sigma_s/2\mu</math> is the same for all earthquakes, one can consider {{M|w}} as a measure of the energy ''E''<sub>s</sub> radiated by earthquakes.

Under these assumptions, the following formula, obtained by [[equation solving|solving]] for {{M|0}} the equation defining {{m|w}}, allows one to assess the ratio <math>E_1/E_2</math> of energy release (potential or radiated) between two earthquakes of different moment magnitudes, <math>m_1</math> and <math>m_2</math>:
:<math> E_1/E_2\approx10^{\frac{3}{2}(m_1-m_2)}</math>.

As with the Richter scale, an increase of one step on the [[logarithmic scale]] of moment magnitude corresponds to a 10<sup>1.5</sup> ≈ 32 times increase in the amount of energy released, and an increase of two steps corresponds to a 10<sup>3</sup>&nbsp;=&nbsp;1,000 times increase in energy. Thus, an earthquake of {{M|w}} of 7.0 contains 1,000 times as much energy as one of 5.0 and about 32 times that of 6.0.

=== Comparison with TNT equivalents ===

To make the significance of the magnitude value plausible, the seismic energy released during the earthquake is sometimes compared to the effect of the conventional chemical explosive [[TNT]].
The seismic energy <math>E_\mathrm{S}</math> results from the above-mentioned formula according to Gutenberg and Richter to

: <math>E_\mathrm{S} = 10^{\;\!1.5 \cdot M_\mathrm{S} + 4.8}</math>

or converted into Hiroshima bombs:

:<math>E_\mathrm{S}= \frac{10^{\;\!1.5 \cdot M_\mathrm{S} + 4.8}}{5.25\cdot10^{13}} = 10^{\;\!1.5 \cdot M_\mathrm{S} - 8.92}</math>

For comparison of seismic energy (in joules) with the corresponding explosion energy, a value of 4.2&nbsp;x&nbsp;10<sup>9</sup> joules per ton of TNT applies. The table<ref name="usgs_energy">[http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/faq/?faqID=33 ''FAQs – Measuring Earthquakes: How much energy is released in an earthquake?''] [[United States Geological Survey]]</ref>{{dead link|date=February 2025}} illustrates the relationship between seismic energy and moment magnitude.

{| class="wikitable float-right" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! M<sub>w</sub>
! E<sub>S</sub><br />(Joules)
! TNT-<br>equivalency<br />(tons)
! equivalence<br /> Hiroshima-<br />bomb<br />(12.5 kT TNT)
|-
| 3 || 2.0&nbsp;'''·'''&nbsp;10<sup>9</sup> || - || - 
|-
| 4 || 6.3&nbsp;'''·'''&nbsp;10<sup>10</sup> || {{0|000.000.0}}15 || {{0|00.00}}0.0012
|-
| 5 || 2.0&nbsp;'''·'''&nbsp;10<sup>12</sup> || {{0|000.000.}}475 || {{0|00.00}}0.038{{0}}
|-
| 6 || 6.3&nbsp;'''·'''&nbsp;10<sup>13</sup> || {{0|000.0}}15,000 || {{0|00.00}}1.2{{0|000}}
|-
| 7 || 2.0&nbsp;'''·'''&nbsp;10<sup>15</sup> || {{0|000.}}475,000 || {{0|00.0}}38{{0|,0000}}
|-
| 8 || 6.3&nbsp;'''·'''&nbsp;10<sup>16</sup> ||   {{0}}15,000,000 || {{0}}1,200{{0|,0000}}
|-
| 9 || 2.0&nbsp;'''·'''&nbsp;10<sup>18</sup> ||       475,000,000 || 38,000{{0|,0000}}
|-
| 10 || 6.3&nbsp;'''·'''&nbsp;10<sup>19</sup> ||   15,000,000,000 || 1,200,000{{0|,0000}}
|}

The end of the scale is at the value 10.6, corresponding to the assumption that at this value the [[Earth's crust]] would have to break apart completely.<ref name="Quarks_&_Co">{{Cite web|last=Quarks & Co|title=Erdbeben – wenn die Erde zurückschlägt|url=https://www.wdr.de/tv/applications/fernsehen/wissen/quarks/pdf/Q_Erdbeben.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826002738/https://www.wdr.de/tv/applications/fernsehen/wissen/quarks/pdf/Q_Erdbeben.pdf|archive-date=2014-08-26|access-date=2022-03-17}}</ref>

== {{anchor|Subtypes}} Subtypes of M<sub>w</sub> ==
Various ways of determining moment magnitude have been developed, and several subtypes of the {{m|w}} scale can be used to indicate the basis used.<ref>USGS [https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/terms.php Technical Terms used on Event Pages].</ref>

* {{vanchor|'''Mwb'''}} – Based on ''moment tensor inversion'' of long-period (~10&nbsp;–&nbsp;100&nbsp;s) body-waves.
* {{vanchor|'''Mwr'''}} – From a ''moment tensor inversion'' of complete waveforms at regional distances (~1,000&nbsp;miles). Sometimes called RMT.
* {{vanchor|'''Mwc'''}} – Derived from a ''centroid moment tensor inversion'' of intermediate- and long-period body- and surface-waves.
* {{vanchor|'''Mww'''}} – Derived from a ''centroid moment tensor inversion'' of the W-phase.
* {{vanchor|'''Mwp'''}} ({{vanchor|'''Mi'''}}) – Developed by Seiji Tsuboi<ref>{{Harvnb|Tsuboi|Abe|Takano|Yamanaka|1995}}.</ref> for quick estimation of the tsunami potential of large near-coastal earthquakes from measurements of the P waves, and later extended to teleseismic earthquakes in general.<ref>{{Harvnb|Bormann|Wendt|Di Giacomo|2013|loc=§3.2.8.2}}, p. 135.</ref>
* {{vanchor|'''Mwpd'''}} – A duration-amplitude procedure which takes into account the duration of the rupture, providing a fuller picture of the energy released by longer lasting ("slow") ruptures than seen with {{M|w}}.<ref>{{Harvnb|Bormann|Wendt|Di Giacomo|2013|loc=§3.2.8.3}}, pp. 137–128.</ref>
* {{vanchor|'''Mdt'''}}  –Rapidly estimates earthquake magnitude by combining maximum displacements of teleseismic P wave and source durations.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Wang|first1=Dun|last2=Kawakatsu|first2=Hitoshi|last3=Zhuang|first3=Jiancang|last4=Mori|first4=Jim|last5=Maeda|first5=Takuto|last6=Tsuruoka|first6=Hiroshi|last7=Zhao|first7=Xu|date=2017-06-16|title=Automated determination of magnitude and source length of large earthquakes using backprojection and P wave amplitudes|url=https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2017GL073801|journal=Geophysical Research Letters|language=en|volume=44|issue=11|pages=5447–5456|doi=10.1002/2017GL073801|bibcode=2017GeoRL..44.5447W|issn=0094-8276}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Earthquake engineering]]
* [[Lists of earthquakes]]
* [[Seismic magnitude scales]]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

== Sources ==
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{{refend}}{{div col end}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090509070347/http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learning/faq.php?categoryID=2 USGS: Measuring earthquakes]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXMKSOsv3QA Perspective: a graphical comparison of earthquake energy release] – [[Pacific Tsunami Warning Center]]

{{Seismic scales}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Seismic magnitude scales]]
[[Category:Geophysics]]
[[Category:Logarithmic scales of measurement]]