Question

What is the Moment Magnitude Scale and what does it measure?

Answer 1

Moment magnitude measures the size of events in terms of how much energy is released. Specifically, moment magnitude relates to the amount of movement by rock.

The Moment Magnitude Scale measures the magnitude (size) of an earthquake.

Answer 2

Moment magnitude measures the size of events in terms of how much energy is released. Specifically, moment magnitude relates to the amount of movement by rock (i.e. the distance of movement along a fault or fracture) and the area of the fault or fracture surface.