What would happen if there was a 20 magnitude earthquake?

“An earthquake this large would last longer than any we’ve ever experienced. “You would feel the shaking for at least five minutes, and aftershocks would go on for hours. “Tsunamis and volcanic eruptions would be taking place, more earthquakes would likely be triggered and the whole world would be falling apart.”

What is the magnitude of a megaquake?

(2) By the US Geological Survey as a magnitude-10 or greater earthquake. Magnitude is based in part on the length of the geological fault—i.e., the longer the fault, the larger the earthquake. There are no known faults long enough to generate a magnitude-10 “mega-quake.”

What happens when an earthquake of 8.0 on the Richter scale occurs?

Intensity 8: Severe — Damage slight in specially designed structures; considerable damage in ordinary substantial buildings with partial collapse. Damage great in poorly built structures. Fall of chimneys, factory stacks, columns, monuments, walls. Heavy furniture overturned.

What would happen if there was an earthquake of intensity 10.0 on Richter scale?

A magnitude 10 quake would likely cause ground motions for up to an hour, with tsunami hitting while the shaking was still going on, according to the research. Tsunami would continue for several days, causing damage to several Pacific Rim nations.

Will there ever be a 10.0 earthquake?

In theory, yes, but it’s extremely unlikely. Earthquakes are caused by the sudden slippage of faults, and their magnitude is partly based on the length of those faults. No known faults are long enough to generate a megaquake of 10 or more. (The largest quake ever recorded was a magnitude 9.5.)

What if a 10.0 earthquake happened?

Buildings would fall and people would die. The cost would be monumental. If it were Los Angeles or San Francisco, there might be less destruction as buildings were built with earthquakes in mind but there would still be massive damage. A city like Chicago would look like a war zone.

Has there ever been a 9.0 earthquake?

Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia, 1952 – Magnitude 9.0 The world’s first recorded magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka in 1952. The quake generated a 43-foot tsunami (13 m) locally. Kamchatka has a rumbling past and many active volcanoes. It was also hit by an 8.5 magnitude quake in 1923.

How bad is a 4.7 earthquake?

GETTY A light earthquake is measured at between 4 and 4.9 on the Richter scale. Like minor quakes, they occur often worldwide, can be felt but generally cause no damage.

How strong is an 8.0 earthquake?

Earthquake Magnitude Scale

Magnitude	Earthquake Effects
5.5 to 6.0	Slight damage to buildings and other structures.
6.1 to 6.9	May cause a lot of damage in very populated areas.
7.0 to 7.9	Major earthquake. Serious damage.
8.0 or greater	Great earthquake. Can totally destroy communities near the epicenter.

What would happen if a 10.0 earthquake happened?

In short, a magnitude 10 earthquake would devastate entire regions, last for a long time, and potentially generate enormous tsunamis.

Has there ever been a 9.5 earthquake?

The world’s largest earthquake with an instrumentally documented magnitude occurred on May 22, 1960 near Valdivia, in southern Chile. It was assigned a magnitude of 9.5 by the United States Geological Survey. It is referred to as the “Great Chilean Earthquake” and the “1960 Valdivia Earthquake.”

How much energy does a 15 magnitude earthquake release?

Secondly, it doesn’t matter where it happens—even a magnitude 15 earthquake is large enough to destroy the Earth—a magnitude 15 earthquake will release about 10^32 kilojoules of energy, “which is roughly the gravitational binding of the Earth” and which I will write out below in expanded form.

How many kilojoules is a 20 magnitude earthquake?

Since every magnitude is 10 times more powerful than the previous, magnitude 20 would be 10^37 kilojoules. A magnitude 20 or higher earthquake would just make the debris cloud hotter. A magnitude 20 quake could potentially hit the Sun without destroying it, but it would release some sort of “catastrophic nova”.

What would happen if a magnitude 20 earthquake hit the Sun?

A magnitude 20 quake could potentially hit the Sun without destroying it, but it would release some sort of “catastrophic nova”. The most powerful earthquakes in the universe (that we know of) are about this magnitude, and they happen on neutron stars.

What is the highest magnitude earthquake in the world?

Till now the highest magnitude of earthquake was occurred in chili in 1960 of moment magnitude of 9.5 . High magnitude does not mean the large destruction occur on ea… Richter scale term often used in media reports is not correct.