Quotes by Charles Francis Richter

A good deal of my consulting work consists of site analysis for proposed developments. The problem of assessing seismic risk starts at the geological-geophysical end and winds up at the engineering end. (Charles Francis Richter)

At least there is progress of California toward building new construction according to earthquake-resistant design. We would have less reason to ask for earthquake prediction if this was universal. (Charles Francis Richter)

Emphasis was usually put on the horizontal acceleration factor, for the simple reason that ordinary structures have a built-in safety factor for the vertical component; that is, gravity. (Charles Francis Richter)

For example, some stars put out large amounts of energy in the infrared part of the spectrum, so that this can produce a different relative magnitude rating than using light energy from the middle of the spectrum. (Charles Francis Richter)

For example, some stars put out large amounts of energy in the infrared part of the spectrum, so that this can produce a different relative magnitude rating than using light energy from the middle of the spectrum.. (Charles Francis Richter)

From here, it becomes an engineering problem; the engineer considers the ground motion that will occur and evaluates the requirements of the proposed structure in the light of the local foundation conditions. (Charles Francis Richter)

I repeatedly have to correct this belief. In a sense, magnitude involves steps of 10 because every increase of one magnitude represents a tenfold amplification of the ground motion. But there is no scale of 10 in the sense of an upper limit. (Charles Francis Richter)

I saw that I could now rank the earthquakes one above the other. Also, quite unexpectedly the attenuation curves were roughly parallel on the plot. (Charles Francis Richter)

I usually point out that most loss of life and property has been due to the collapse of antiquated and unsafe structures, mostly of brick and other masonry. (Charles Francis Richter)

I was lucky because logarithmic plots are a device of the devil. (Charles Francis Richter)