I usually point out that most loss of life and property has been due to the collapse of antiquated and unsafe structures, mostly of brick and other masonry.

Quote by Charles Francis Richter

Topics: Charles Francis Richter Quotes

What emerged, of course, was that the magnitude scale presupposed that all earthquakes were alike...

What emerged, of course, was that the magnitude scale presupposed that all earthquakes were alike...

I'm glad to see the press now referring to the open-ended Richter scale.

I'm glad to see the press now referring to the open-ended Richter scale.

As seismologists gained more experience from earthquake records, it became obvious that the problem could...

As seismologists gained more experience from earthquake records, it became obvious that the problem could...

Nothing is less predictable than the development of an active scientific field.

Nothing is less predictable than the development of an active scientific field.

I suggested that we might compare earthquakes in terms of the measured amplitudes recorded at...

I suggested that we might compare earthquakes in terms of the measured amplitudes recorded at...

My amateur interest in astronomy brought out the term 'magnitude,' which is used for the...

My amateur interest in astronomy brought out the term 'magnitude,' which is used for the...

For example, some stars put out large amounts of energy in the infrared part of...

For example, some stars put out large amounts of energy in the infrared part of...

We would have been happy if we could have assigned just three categories, large, medium,...

We would have been happy if we could have assigned just three categories, large, medium,...

Refining is inevitable in science when you have made measurements of a phenomenon for a...

Refining is inevitable in science when you have made measurements of a phenomenon for a...

If one introduces the concept of energy of an earthquake then that is a theoretically...

If one introduces the concept of energy of an earthquake then that is a theoretically...

Intensity like signal strength will generally fall off with distance from the source, although it...

Intensity like signal strength will generally fall off with distance from the source, although it...

From here, it becomes an engineering problem; the engineer considers the ground motion that will...

From here, it becomes an engineering problem; the engineer considers the ground motion that will...

In every area of the world where there is earthquake risk, there are still many...

In every area of the world where there is earthquake risk, there are still many...

I was lucky because logarithmic plots are a device of the devil.

I was lucky because logarithmic plots are a device of the devil.

This is very similar to astronomy where different magnitudes are assigned to the brightness of...

This is very similar to astronomy where different magnitudes are assigned to the brightness of...

By moving them vertically, a representative mean curve could be formed, and individual events were...

By moving them vertically, a representative mean curve could be formed, and individual events were...

There is another common misapprehension that the magnitude scale is itself some kind of instrument...

There is another common misapprehension that the magnitude scale is itself some kind of instrument...

Incidentally, the usual designation of the magnitude scale to my name does less than justice...

Incidentally, the usual designation of the magnitude scale to my name does less than justice...

Emphasis was usually put on the horizontal acceleration factor, for the simple reason that ordinary...

Emphasis was usually put on the horizontal acceleration factor, for the simple reason that ordinary...

I repeatedly have to correct this belief. In a sense, magnitude involves steps of 10...

I repeatedly have to correct this belief. In a sense, magnitude involves steps of 10...