What is a Magnitude?

The Magnitude is the size for the total released energy of an earthquake.
The Magnitude is determined by measurement of the speed of the ground motion. The determined Magnitude is the same at every point of the world!

• Earthquakes of a Magnitude 4.0 up to 5.2 are perceived by most of the people with fright – the damages remain low.
• Earthquakes of a Magnitude > 5.2 are perceived by all people with fright, perceptible damages result and constitute a danger for people and environment.

The actual effects - damages - of an earthquake at the location of a viewer in the vicinity of e.g. 500 km are different according to geology and cultivation.
The degree of these damages is the intensity.