MAGNITUDE AND ENERGY OF EARTHQUAKES

Abstract

This paper is in continuation of previous investigations (Gutenberg and Richter, Paper I, 1942; Paper I I , 1956). The earthquake magnitude has statistical and other uses independent of the relation between magnitude and energy. Indeed, it is possible that there is no complete one-to-one correlation between magnitude and energy for large and complex tectonic events. Even so, a mean or representative relation is a legitimate object of inquiry.