Richter scale

noun
1.
a scale, ranging from 1 to 10, for indicating the intensity of an earthquake.
Origin
1935-40; after Charles F. Richter (1900-85), U.S. seismologist
British Dictionary definitions for Richter scale

Richter scale

/ˈrɪxtə/
noun
1.
a scale for expressing the magnitude of an earthquake in terms of the logarithm of the amplitude of the ground wave; values range from 0 to over 9 Compare Mercalli scale See also magnitude (sense 5)
Word Origin
C20: named after Charles Richter (1900–85) US seismologist
Word Origin and History for Richter scale

1938, devised by U.S. seismologist Charles Francis Richter (1900-1985).

Richter scale in Science
Richter scale
  (rĭk'tər)   
A logarithmic scale used to rate the strength or total energy of earthquakes. The scale has no upper limit but usually ranges from 1 to 9. Because it is logarithmic, an earthquake rated as 5 is ten times as powerful as one rated as 4. An earthquake with a magnitude of 1 is detectable only by seismographs; one with a magnitude of 7 is a major earthquake. The Richter scale is named after the American seismologist Charles Francis Richter (1900-1985). See Note at earthquake.
Richter scale in Culture
Richter scale [(rik-tuhr)]

A scale used to rate the intensity of earthquakes. The scale is open-ended, with each succeeding level representing ten times as much energy as the last. A serious earthquake might rate six to eight, and very destructive quakes rate higher.

Note: No quake greater than nine has ever been recorded.