<p>The question doesn't really make sense.</p>
<p>The Richter and other <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seismic_magnitude_scales" rel="noreferrer">seismic magnitude scales</a> are measures of how much energy was released by an earthquake or how much work it did.  An earthquake doesn't &quot;feel like&quot; any particular magnitude at any given point; rather, magnitude is an inherent attribute of the earthquake itself.</p>
<p>&quot;Feels like&quot; is measured on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seismic_intensity_scales" rel="noreferrer">seismic intensity scales</a> such as the Mercalli scale.  These measure the peak acceleration or velocity at a given point, or the damage done by the earthquake.  Intensity is influenced by many things, such as the depth of the earthquake, the distance to the ruptured section of the fault, and the local surface material.</p>
<p>Translating between the two is difficult, and requires knowing the detailed geology of the area involved.  The picture below is a USGS map of two earthquakes of comparable magnitude, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_Northridge_earthquake" rel="noreferrer">1994 Northridge earthquake</a> and an 1895 earthquake on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Madrid_Seismic_Zone#1812%E2%80%931900" rel="noreferrer">New Madrid Seismic Zone</a>.  In both cases, the outer zone is an intensity of Mercalli II or above, while the inner zone is an intensity of Mercalli VI or above.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/yP3vh.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/yP3vh.jpg" alt="A map of the United States, showing the effects of two earthquakes.  The 1994 Northridge earthquake affected an area consisting mostly of southern California, with a small damage area.  The 1895 New Madrid earthquake affected most of the eastern United States, with a damage area covering large parts of Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri." /></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-08T14:48:03.393Z
As Mark's map hints, it looks to be very asymmetric at times... [here's the estimated MMI scale of estimated shaking of the 1906 San Francisco California earthquake](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/events/1906calif/shakemap/img/1906_Boatwright_intensity.jpg). Felt hundreds of miles north and south along the coast (including strong shaking in Eurkea 225+ miles away), but barely in Sacramento 75 miles away.  Browsing [USGS recent earthquakes list](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/?extent=-82.67628,-229.21875&extent=84.9901,333.28125) may help get an idea of MMI distributions
JeopardyTempest
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-05T02:04:27.373Z
2021-06-05T02:04:27.373Z
Mark
<p>I can't find a good way to say this but, if I had some info about an earthquake (i.e. magnitude 8, originating in water) and if I had a distance (i.e. 850 miles/ 1370 km) could I calculate what it would be if that specific location was the epicenter? So, maybe it would be like a 3 or 4 maybe?</p>
<p>I'm looking for a formula or calculator. If it is not possible, please tell me! It is fine if it is rough.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-04T23:04:45.350Z
I think that this is a question which may be better asked at the [earthscience.se] Stack Exchange so I'm going to migrate it there.
PolyGeo
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-05T01:48:59.040Z
I believe like most waves, intensity is felt (on average) as the inverse square of the distance.  1/d^2 .  But the richter scale is logarithmic, so that complicates things.  Perhaps that means on the richter scale the "felt like" is only linear with distance. 1/d  see https://courses.lumenlearning.com/geo/chapter/reading-magnitude-versus-intensity/
f.thorpe
<earthquakes>
What Magnitude does it Feel Like when Far Away in an Earthquake?
Nikhil R.
# What Magnitude does it Feel Like when Far Away in an Earthquake?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-06-04)

I can't find a good way to say this but, if I had some info about an earthquake (i.e. magnitude 8, originating in water) and if I had a distance (i.e. 850 miles/ 1370 km) could I calculate what it would be if that specific location was the epicenter? So, maybe it would be like a 3 or 4 maybe?

I'm looking for a formula or calculator. If it is not possible, please tell me! It is fine if it is rough.

**Tags:** earthquakes

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I think that this is a question which may be better asked at the [earthscience.se] Stack Exchange so I'm going to migrate it there.  
> **username_2**: I believe like most waves, intensity is felt (on average) as the inverse square of the distance.  1/d^2 .  But the richter scale is logarithmic, so that complicates things.  Perhaps that means on the richter scale the "felt like" is only linear with distance. 1/d  see https://courses.lumenlearning.com/geo/chapter/reading-magnitude-versus-intensity/  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2021-06-05. Score: 7 | Accepted answer

The question doesn't really make sense.

The Richter and other [seismic magnitude scales](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seismic_magnitude_scales) are measures of how much energy was released by an earthquake or how much work it did. An earthquake doesn't "feel like" any particular magnitude at any given point; rather, magnitude is an inherent attribute of the earthquake itself.

"Feels like" is measured on [seismic intensity scales](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seismic_intensity_scales) such as the Mercalli scale. These measure the peak acceleration or velocity at a given point, or the damage done by the earthquake. Intensity is influenced by many things, such as the depth of the earthquake, the distance to the ruptured section of the fault, and the local surface material.

Translating between the two is difficult, and requires knowing the detailed geology of the area involved. The picture below is a USGS map of two earthquakes of comparable magnitude, the [1994 Northridge earthquake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_Northridge_earthquake) and an 1895 earthquake on the [New Madrid Seismic Zone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Madrid_Seismic_Zone#1812%E2%80%931900). In both cases, the outer zone is an intensity of Mercalli II or above, while the inner zone is an intensity of Mercalli VI or above.

[![A map of the United States, showing the effects of two earthquakes.  The 1994 Northridge earthquake affected an area consisting mostly of southern California, with a small damage area.  The 1895 New Madrid earthquake affected most of the eastern United States, with a damage area covering large parts of Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri.](https://i.sstatic.net/yP3vh.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/yP3vh.jpg)

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: As Mark's map hints, it looks to be very asymmetric at times... [here's the estimated MMI scale of estimated shaking of the 1906 San Francisco California earthquake](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/events/1906calif/shakemap/img/1906_Boatwright_intensity.jpg). Felt hundreds of miles north and south along the coast (including strong shaking in Eurkea 225+ miles away), but barely in Sacramento 75 miles away.  Browsing [USGS recent earthquakes list](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/?extent=-82.67628,-229.21875&extent=84.9901,333.28125) may help get an idea of MMI distributions  

---

