The Richter scale is logarithmic, so a 6.3 is (roughly) 2.51 times as strong as a 5.9. I guess they’re calling it a 6.0 now — a 6.3 is almost twice as strong as a 6.0. (a 6.0 is 10 times as strong as a 5.0 and 100 times as strong as a 4.0)
That said, one also has to consider that So. Cal. was kinda built for earthquakes… so what is “moderate” to them would cause lots of problems in a place not ready for it.
Not So Fast 
The Richter scale is logarithmic, so a 6.3 is (roughly) 2.51 times as strong as a 5.9. I guess they’re calling it a 6.0 now — a 6.3 is almost twice as strong as a 6.0. (a 6.0 is 10 times as strong as a 5.0 and 100 times as strong as a 4.0)
That said, one also has to consider that So. Cal. was kinda built for earthquakes… so what is “moderate” to them would cause lots of problems in a place not ready for it.
/I’m a nerd, sue me. 🙂
Yeah, I know all about that logarithmic stuff, but I still thought it was funny that an earthquake that big was “moderate”.
That moderate an earthquake would make me nervous if I was in it.
Oh, and I’m suing. Mental anguish.
But for you to claim mental anguish it means you must have taken a non-trivial amount of time to think of me or something I’ve said.
That’s what I call a “moral victory.”
Personally, I prefer “acts of god” that are at least reasonably predictable… like tornadoes, hurricanes, and stupidity.
Ack! More anguish!