5 ms·
It depends how close you are to the epicenter, of course. Your figure seems about right to me: I think a 5.0 near an epicenter would be pretty violent. But I'
by rectang 5y ago
It depends how close you are to the epicenter, of course. Your figure seems about right to me: I think a 5.0 near an epicenter would be pretty violent. But I've never been near an epicenter — only on the outskirts.
- djrogers 5y agoIt also depends on what type of ground you're on. I've been in 5+ earthquakes in a house built on solid rock (Los Angeles area hills), and a 4.5 down in the valley. Being on loose ground makes it feel much worse.
- ryantgtg 5y agoEvery time I feel an earthquake in LA, my first question is, “was that a small one near me or a big one far away?”
- antod 5y agoYou get a feel for that with the shaking frequency and/or gap between different sets of waves (P & S waves). No discernable gap and higher jerkier frequency usually means closer, a longer rolling feeling with separated phases that might last longer usually means further away. Just like sound or ocean waves the higher frequencies attenuate out quicker over distance.