The Richter scale measures the magnitude of earthquakes. Developed in 1935 by Charles F. Richter, this logarithmic scale quantifies the energy released during an earthquake, allowing for a standardized comparison of seismic events. Each whole number increase on the scale represents a tenfold increase in measured amplitude and approximately 31.6 times more energy release. Although the Richter scale is widely known, modern seismology often uses the moment magnitude scale (Mw) for more accurate measurements, especially for large earthquakes. Regardless, the Richter scale remains an essential tool for understanding the intensity and potential impact of seismic activity.