Earthquake energy calculator
Enter a magnitude to see the approximate seismic energy released, with a TNT comparison.
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Processing and privacy: The result is calculated inside your browser and your data is not sent to any server.
How to use it
- Enter magnitude.
- The result appears straight away and updates as you edit.
- Copy the result, or copy a link that keeps the same values to share it.
How it is calculated
log₁₀ E = 1.5 M + 4.8, with E in joules and M the magnitude (Gutenberg and Richter relation used by the USGS). 1 tonne of TNT = 4.184 × 10⁹ J.
Example
Inputs: Magnitude = 6. Result: Energy released: 63,095,734,448,019 J; TNT equivalent: 15,080.24 tonnes; In kilowatt hours: 17,526,593 kWh.
Limits and caveats
- The relation estimates radiated seismic energy; it is not a direct measurement.
- Meant for moment magnitude or close equivalents; older local scales can give different figures.
Questions about this tool
How much more energy does a 7 release than a 6?
About 31.6 times, because each whole step multiplies energy by 10 to the power 1.5.
Is a magnitude 6 like a nuclear bomb?
It releases about 15 thousand tonnes of TNT, close to the estimated Hiroshima yield.
Is the Richter scale still used?
Agencies now mostly report moment magnitude, which gives similar numbers for moderate quakes.