Seismic moment Seismic moment Seismic moment is a quantity used by seismologists to measure the size of an earthquake. The scalar seismic moment formula_1 is defined by the equation formula_2, where formula_1 thus has dimensions of torque, measured in newton meters. The connection between seismic moment and a torque is natural in the representation of seismic sources as a pair of force couples. Seismic moment is not a measure of energy. The relations between seismic moment, potential energy drop and radiated energy are indirect and approximative. The seismic moment of an earthquake is typically estimated using whatever information is available to constrain
Greenhouse effect Greenhouse effect The greenhouse effect is the process by which radiation from a planet's atmosphere warms the planet's surface to a temperature above what it would be without its atmosphere. If a planet's atmosphere contains radiatively active gases (i.e., greenhouse gases) they will radiate energy in all directions. Part of this radiation is directed towards the surface, warming it. The intensity of the downward radiation – that is, the strength of the greenhouse effect – will depend on the atmosphere's temperature and on the amount of greenhouse gases that the atmosphere contains. Earth’s natural greenhouse effect is critical to supporting