Magnitude-frequency distribution

Magnitude-frequency distribution is a way scientists understand how often earthquakes of different sizes occur. It shows that smaller quakes happen more frequently, while larger, more powerful ones are rarer. Mathematically, it’s often represented by a curve that indicates the number of earthquakes decreases as magnitude increases. This helps in assessing seismic risk by predicting the likelihood of various earthquake sizes over time, aiding in preparedness and infrastructure planning. Essentially, it’s a tool that describes the relationship between how strong an earthquake is and how often it happens in a given area.