Richter TNT for Seismic Example Magnitude Energy Yield (approximate)

Earthquake Severity

Richter Earthquake
Magnitudes Effects

Less than 3.5 Generally not felt, but recorded.

3.5-5.4 Often felt, but rarely causes damage.

Under 6.0 At most slight damage to well-designed buildings.
Can cause major damage to poorly constructed buildings
over small regions.

6.1-6.9 Can be destructive in areas up to about 100 kilometers
across where people live.

7.0-7.9 Major earthquake. Can cause serious damage over larger areas.

8 or greater Great earthquake. Can cause serious damage in areas several
hundred kilometers across.
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Richter TNT for Seismic Example
Magnitude Energy Yield (approximate)

-1.5     6 ounces Breaking a rock on a lab table
1.0      30 pounds Large Blast at a Construction Site
1.5      320 pounds
2.0      1 ton Large Quarry or Mine Blast
2.5     4.6 tons
3.0     29 tons
3.5     73 tons
4.0     1,000 tons Small Nuclear Weapon
4.5     5,100 tons Average Tornado (total energy)
5.0     32,000 tons
5.5     80,000 tons Little Skull Mtn., NV Quake, 1992
6.0     1 million tons Double Spring Flat, NV Quake, 1994
6.5     5 million tons Northridge, CA Quake, 1994
7.0     32 million tons Hyogo-Ken Nanbu, Japan Quake, 1995; Largest Thermonuclear Weapon
7.5    160 million tons Landers, CA Quake, 1992
8.0    1 billion tons San Francisco, CA Quake, 1906
8.5    5 billion tons Anchorage, AK Quake, 1964
9.0    32 billion tons Chilean Quake, 1960
10.0  1 trillion tons (San-Andreas type fault circling Earth)
12.0  160 trillion tons (Fault Earth in half through center,
OR Earth's daily receipt of solar energy)

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