With the 6.5 magnitude earthquake shaking Moscow on March 31 and the aftershocks coming almost daily, there are a few things that make this earthquake unique.
According to the US Geological Survey, this was the largest earthquake in Idaho’s history since the Borah Peak earthquake in 1983 which was a 6.9 magnitude.
Tuesday’s earthquake was a 6.5 magnitude.
Mika McKinnon, professor at the University of British Columbia, said earthquakes are measured by magnitude or amount of energy released, which follows a logarithmic scale.
A logarithmic scale is based off logs, which grow exponentially by 10 every time it gets bigger
“Seismologists look at two different things with an earthquake. There’s the earthquake’s magnitude which is how much energy is released. That magnitude is the same no matter where you measure it,” McKinnon said.
Magnitude one and two earthquakes happen almost every day somewhere in the world but are not usually felt by people because scientists need special equipment to detect it.
A magnitude three earthquake would “feel like a truck slamming into the side of your house” if you were on top of the epicenter McKinnon said.
An epicenter is the location on the surface which is directly above where the earthquake started.
McKinnon said every number after that is ten times as much energy as the number before it.
“So, the difference between a magnitude 6.5 and 6.9 is actually, really, really, really big because of this logarithmic scale,” McKinnon said.
The other thing seismologists look for is self-intensity, which McKinnon said is a subjective feeling.
“How much shaking did you feel? And that depends on how close you are to the earthquake. The closer you are the more shaking you feel. It depends on your surface geology. Hard rock seeks less saturated sediment will actually amplify shaking the feeling even more. It depends what type of building you’re in. Taller buildings will shake more than shorter building,” McKinnon said.
Staying safe during an earthquake:
Moscow experienced an earthquake Tuesday and while the tremors were light, keeping safe during an earthquake is important. Here is a short summary of what to do according to the CDC’s website.
The well-known terms in an earthquake are drop, cover and hold on.
- Drop: If an earthquake is felt drop on your hands and knees, this protects you from falling over from the earthquake, but you can still move around.
- Cover: Try to cover your entire body, if you can’t at least cover your head and neck. If you can, cover yourself under a table or desk. If you can’t then go near an interior wall or low furniture which will not fall on you.
- Hold on: If you are under shelter hold on to it, if not then hold onto your head and neck until the shaking stops. Move with your shelter if the shaking moves it.
A common misconception is to stand in a doorway, DO NOT. According to the CDC’s website, it is much safer to go under a table. Doorways in modern homes are not stronger than the rest of the house and it won’t protect you from falling objects.
Some additional tips:
- Move away from glass, hanging objects, bookcases, china cabinets or other large furniture that could fall quickly before the shaking increases.
- Grab an object that can shield your head and face.
- If you are in the kitchen turn off the stove and take cover at the first shake.
- If you are in bed, stay there. Protect your head with a pillow as broken glass can be on the floor or near doorways.
Kali Nelson and Alex Brizee can be reached at [email protected]