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In this article, we will discuss the Seismograph vs Richter Scale.
An earthquake may be defined as the sudden shock of the earth that emits the energy in the earth’s lithosphere causing the formation of seismic waves.
The earthquake can be caused due to volcanic eruption, moving of tectonic plates, formation of the cave in a small area, or due to explosions. It is determined with the help of a seismograph by Seismometers and is measured on the Richter Magnitude Scale.
1. Seismograph
The seismograph can measure the strength and duration of the earthquake’s waves. A seismograph is a primary earthquake recording device. The seismograph makes a digital graphic measuring the ground motion by the seismic waves. The digital measuring device is called a seismogram.
When seismic data is taken from a minimum of three different places, it can be utilized to calculate the epicenter by where it crosses.
2. Richter Scale
The majorly utilized method, the Richter scale, was introduced by Charles F. Richter in 1934. It utilizes a formula that depends upon the amplitude of the largest wave measured on a specific type of seismometer and the distance between the earthquake and the seismometer.
That scale was fixed to California earthquakes and crust; other scales, depending upon wave amplitudes and total earthquake time span, were introduced for utilization in other conditions and they were prepared to be uniform with Richter’s scale.
3. Seismograph VS Richter Scale
The seismograph Vs Richter scale is as follows:
| Seismograph | Richter scale |
| It is utilized for measuring and recording the vibrations during earthquakes. | It is utilized for denoting the intensity of earthquakes. |
| It is used for measuring the motions related to the ground like seismic waves outcoming in an earthquake and volcanic explosion. | It is utilized for evaluating the energy that is emitted during an earthquake. |
| Seismologists utilize seismic wave data to map the interior of the Earth, as well as to locate and measure the various origins of earthquakes. | The Richter scale is a base-10 logarithmic scale, which denotes that an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.0 has a movement amplitude 10 times more than one with a magnitude of 4.0, and is consistent with 31.6 times more energy emitted. |
| Negative magnitude earthquakes are measured by various sensitive latest seismographs. | While the scale is commonly thought to be labeled from 1 to 10, with 0 serving as the baseline against which the energy is recorded, the scale has no lower restriction. |
| It is introduced in 1935 | Initially introduced in 132 AD, the latest ones are used from the ones prepared between 1880 and 1895. |
| Introduced by Charles Francis Richter in partnership with Beno Gutenberg | The first seismoscope was introduced by Zhang Heng. However, most latest ones are used from the ones prepared by the group of John Milne, James Alfred Ewing, and Thomas Gray, who worked in Japan from 1880 to 1895. |
4. Earthquake Vulnerable Countries
The earthquake vulnerable countries are as follows:
| Japan | Nepal | India |
| Ecuador | Philippines | Pakistan |
| El Salvador | Mexico | Turkey |
| Indonesia | ||
| Read Also: Dangerous Volcanic Eruptions in History |
