What Was the Greatest Number of People Killed in One Earthquake?
An earthquake in China in 1556 killed approximately 830,000 people. 14. How Are Earthquakes Measured? A seismometer is an instrument that senses the earth’s motion; a seismograph combines a seismometer with recording equipment to obtain a permanent record of the motion. From this record scientists can calculate how much energy was released in an earthquake, which is one way to decide its magnitude. Calculations are made from several different seismograms, both close to and far from an earthquake source to determine its magnitude. Calculations from various seismic stations and seismographs should give the same magnitude, with only one magnitude for any given earthquake. Richter Magnitude is the scale most people are familiar with, but scientists use other more accurate scales. Another nonscientific way of measuring earthquakes is by their intensity or degree of shaking. Intensity is descriptive, and is determined by inspection of damage and other effects, with the greatest intensity bei
