Earthquake Energy as a Function of Magnitude
Magnitude
Energy Equivalent Weight of TNT*
Energy in joules
(1 J = 1 newton meter)
Notes
-3.0
0.001 ounces
2 J
1.5 foot pounds (18 inch pounds)
-2.0
0.032 ounces
63.1 J
47 foot pounds
-1.0
1.0 ounces
2E+03 J
1,500 foot pounds
0.0
32 ounces
63.1E+03 J
1.0
63 pounds
2E+06 J
2.0
1 ton
63.1E+06 J
Only felt nearby.
3.0
32 tons
2E+9 J
4.0
1 kton
63.1E+9 J
Often felt up to 10's of miles away.
5.0
32 ktons
2E+12 J
6.0
1,000 ktons
63.1E+12 J
6.9
22,700 ktons
1.41E+15 J
1995 Kobe, Japan, Earthquake
7.0
32,000 ktons
2E+15 J
8.0
1 Mtons
63.1E+15 J
9.0
32,000 Mtons
2E+18 J
9.2
64,000 Mtons
3.98E+18 J
1964 Alaska Earthquake - Second largest instrumentally recorded earthquake
9.5
180,000 Mtons
11.2E+18 J
1960 Chile - Largest instrumentally recorded earthquake