True/False: Earthquake fatalities scale linearly with earthquake magnitude, so bigger earthquakes always have larger numbers of fatalities than smaller ones.

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The statement claims that earthquake fatalities scale linearly with earthquake magnitude, so bigger earthquakes always yield more deaths. This is not correct for several reasons.

First, magnitude is a logarithmic measure of energy release, not a direct count of fatalities. A small increase in magnitude corresponds to a large increase in energy, but the relationship to deaths depends on many other factors beyond energy release itself.

Second, fatalities are heavily influenced by exposure and vulnerability. An intense but well-constructed, densely inhabited area with strict building codes can experience far fewer deaths than a similar-sized event in a poorly built, highly populated location with little enforcement of safety standards. Therefore, a smaller earthquake in a vulnerable area can cause more fatalities than a larger one in a less vulnerable setting.

Third, factors such as depth of focus, depth of rupture, ground shaking intensities at the surface, duration of shaking, soil conditions, and the presence of liquefaction or landslides can dramatically alter damage outcomes independent of magnitude.

Fourth, the timing and duration of the event, as well as emergency response capacity and infrastructure resilience, influence casualty numbers. A large event occurring when people are outdoors or when evacuation is rapid may result in fewer fatalities than a smaller event occurring indoors with delayed rescue.

Fifth, the distribution of casualties matters: even a modest earthquake near a critical facility (hospitals, schools, retirement homes) can produce many deaths if those structures fail, whereas a larger event elsewhere may have limited impact on fatalities.

In summary, while larger earthquakes can cause more damage in many situations, fatalities do not increase in a simple linear fashion with magnitude because exposure, vulnerability, building practices, ground conditions, and response capacity play decisive roles. Hence the claim that fatalities scale linearly with magnitude and that bigger earthquakes always have more fatalities is incorrect.

GEL 020 001 FQ 2025 Quiz for Lecture 18 (12/1)

True/False: Earthquake fatalities scale linearly with earthquake magnitude, so bigger earthquakes always have larger numbers of fatalities than smaller ones.

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