
Gutenberg's Earthquake (Gutenberg-Richter Law)
The Gutenberg-Richter Law describes the relationship between the magnitude of earthquakes and their frequency. Essentially, it states that smaller earthquakes occur much more often than larger ones. For example, a magnitude 5 earthquake might happen hundreds of times in a year, while a magnitude 7 might only occur every few decades. This pattern helps seismologists estimate the number of earthquakes of various sizes that could occur in a given area over time, providing insights into seismic risk and aiding in disaster preparedness efforts.