Richter, C.F. (Charles Francis Richter)

Charles Francis Richter was an American seismologist known for developing the Richter scale in 1935. The Richter scale is a logarithmic method to measure the magnitude of earthquakes, indicating their energy release. Each whole number increase represents roughly a 31.6 times increase in amplitude of seismic waves, meaning a magnitude 6 quake is significantly stronger than a magnitude 5. The scale helps scientists communicate earthquake size consistently, aiding in risk assessment and response planning. Despite newer scales being used today, the Richter scale remains a foundational concept in seismology, highlighting Richter’s contributions to understanding and quantifying Earth's seismic activity.