However, each scale had a limitation, so the moment magnitude scale was developed as a more thorough and uniformly applicable measure for earthquakes. What is the strongest earthquake ever recorded?

Earthquake strength is registered on the moment magnitude scale, which measures how much energy was released when the rocks along a fault moved during the quake.

The moment magnitude scale, as it is known, replaced one developed by an American seismologist, Charles Richter, that was used until the 1970s.

The Moment Magnitude Scale Ray Petelin According to the US Geological Survey, the Moment Magnitude Scale takes into account how far a fault slipped during an earthquake, and the area of the ...

Scientists largely use the moment magnitude scale to categorize earthquakes’ strength and size in a way that’s more accurate than the long-used Richter scale, the US Geological Survey says.

While the Richter Scale is widely recognized, modern seismologists prefer the moment magnitude scale for accurate measurement of earthquakes.

A 3.3-magnitude earthquake hit Northern California Monday evening near Los Banos, about 30 miles from San Jose. No damage ...

This quake registered 6.8 on the moment magnitude scale, which is used to measure the amount of energy released during an earthquake and the distance the ground moves along a fault.

WATCH: ODOT traffic cameras capture Chesapeake, Ohio earthquake Both quakes exceeded 2.5 on the moment magnitude scale, which measures the strength of an earthquake.

The Richter scale was replaced in the 1970s by other magnitude scales that are more accurate. Even though it’s outdated, the term is still used often when discussing earthquakes.

Registering at a 4.8 magnitude on the Moment Magnitude Scale (MM scale), tremors could reportedly be felt by people up to 200 miles from the epicenter, from Washington, D.C. to New England.