I have read about the different magnitudes and units of measurement. I have
also visited that site which attempts to give an equivalent in Joules.
I have a question though. I am not a geologist just a mechanical engineer
and I am thinking through the mechanical point of wiew:
Apparently we discuss about the energy dissipated during an earthquake. This
is fine but shouldn't we also talk about the power of the earthquake? This
would obwiously be measured in W.
The reason I am saying this is because the energy dissipated does not
completely characterize the quake. A weak earthquake over an extendet period
of time could dissipate the same energy as a powerful one over a short
period.
I assume that the last one would be more dangerous than the first one.
What are the magnitude scales measuring? Power or Energy?
A.
