The Richter Magnitude Scale
The Richter magnitude scale, also known as the local magnitude (M) scale, assigns a number to quantify the amount of seismic energy released by an earthquake. It is a base-10 logarithmic scale.
| Richter magnitudes | Description | Earthquake effects |
| < 2.0 | Micro | Micro earthquakes, not felt. |
| 2.0-2.9 | Minor | Generally not felt, but recorded. |
| 3.0-3.9 | Often felt, but rarely causes damage. | |
| 4.0-4.9 | Light | Noticeable shaking of indoor items, rattling noises. Significant damage unlikely. |
| 5.0-5.9 | Moderate | Can cause major damage to poorly constructed buildings over small regions. At most slight damage to well-designed buildings. |
| 6.0-6.9 | Strong | Can be destructive in areas up to about 160 kilometres (100 mi) across in populated areas. |
| 7.0-7.9 | Major | Can cause serious damage over larger areas. |
| 8.0-8.9 | Great | Can cause serious damage in areas several hundred miles across. |
| 9.0-9.9 | Devastating in areas several thousand miles across. | |
| 10.0+ | Epic | Never recorded |