Earthquake Energy Calculator
Earthquake Energy
Calculate the energy released by an earthquake from its Richter magnitude
Formula
Energy (Joules) = 10^(1.5 x Magnitude + 4.8)
Frequently Asked Questions
How much energy does a magnitude 5 earthquake release?
A magnitude 5 earthquake releases approximately 2 x 10^12 Joules of energy, equivalent to about 500 tons of TNT.
How much stronger is each magnitude increase?
Each whole number increase in magnitude represents roughly 31.6 times more energy released.