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The Richter scale has no upper and lower values, although in practical terms the lowest magnitude earthquakes that are capable of being recorded have a Richter magnitude of -3 (the minus numbers occur because Charles Richter chose an arbitrary seismic wave amplitude to equal a magnitude of 1 and seismometers have become more sensitive since then, so smaller seismic waves can be detected leading to magnitude values lower than 1).

Conversely, the largest-ever earthquake recorded was a magnitude 9.5 event which occurred on May 22, 1960, in Valdivia, Chile.

Some more background information

It is thought that the asteroid impact event that occurred at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary, 65.5 million years ago and thought to have contributed to the extinction of the dinosaurs (creating the Chicxulub crater), would have emitted energy equal to an earthquake of magnitude 12.5 on the Richter scale.

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13y ago
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13y ago

10,7. 190,650bc

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Q: What is the highest reading on Richter scale of an earthquake?
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Related questions

What is the highest earthquake reading?

The highest earthquake reading on the Richter scale is 9.5 when an earthquake struck Chilie


What was the highest reading on the Richter scale ever and what were the effects?

The Highest reading on the richter scale has been a 9.7 magnitude in Chilli


What is the highest measurement on the Richter scale?

There is no absolute top to the Richter scale, although the largest earthquake ever recorded by mankind was the Valdivia earthquake in Chile that was the equivalent of 9.5 on the Richter scale in 1960. While no earthquake any stronger has ever been recorded, the impact that caused the Chicxulub crater in the Yucatan Peninsula about 65 million years ago has been calculated to have been the equivalent of about 13.0 on the Richter scale.


What is the highest earthquake according to the Richtor Scale?

The highest earthquake on the Richter Scale was in Val diva, Chile the magnitude was 9.5 in 1960


What was the Richter scale reading when the earthquake hit Valdivia Chile?

It was recorded to be magnitude 9.5 on the Richter scale and if you wanted to know it was considered 'CATASTROPHIC' (XII) on the Mercalli scale which measures the intensity of the earthquake


What was the largest earthquake in the world by Richter number?

The highest Richter scale value for an historical earthquake was the Great Chilean Earthquake (Valdivia Earthquake) of 1960, which occurred on May 22, 1960. Its moment magnitude was estimated at 9.5 on the Richter scale (9.4 to 9.6).


Which Place measured the highest earthquake in Richter scale in the year 2010?

Chile


Which earthquake recorded at the highest rating on the Richter scale in the 20th century?

actually, the highest rating was an earthquake in Chili, coming in on a 9.5


Place with the highest earthquake in Richter scale in 2010?

The place with the highest magnitude on the Richter scale took place in the Solomon Islands on January 3, 2010. Luckily, no fatalities were recorded.


What is the minimum Richter scale reading in order for an earthquake to be considered a major one?

Its 4.


What was the number on the Richter scale for the earthquake in Virginia?

The 2011 earthquake was a 5.8 magnitude on the Richter scale.


An earthquake that was rated 3 on the Richter scale would be?

An earthquake that was rated 3 on the Richter scale would beignored