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The two main earthquake classifications are the Ritcher and mercalli scales. The Ritcher scale measures the actual amount of energy released by the quake in a scale of 1-10. Every number in the scale is 10x stronger than the number before it. This is the kind of measurement that would be reported in the news first. Most earthquakes are recorded using this scale.

The Mercalli scale rates earthquakes by the signs noticeable during the quake and the damage caused. Having plaster falling off walls, for example, would give a rating of 6 (strong). Note that this scale doesn't indicate the actual intensity of the earthquake.

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