[Michael.SF.]

Each jump up the Richter scale is 32 times more strain energy released.

Thanks. I never did take geology in college (Botany, Chemistry and Physics). I was thinking that the difference between each point on the scale was a factor of ten, not 32.

[Strategerist]

Thanks. I never did take geology in college (Botany, Chemistry and Physics). I was thinking that the difference between each point on the scale was a factor of ten, not 32.

Each jump is 10 times in terms of GROUND motion; but the total energy release of each whole number jump upwards is about 32 times.