The natural phenomenon measured on a Richter scale is an earthquake. The Richter scale, developed by Charles F. Richter in 1935, quantifies the magnitude of seismic waves generated by an earthquake, providing a numerical value that reflects the earthquake's energy release. The scale is logarithmic, meaning that each whole number increase represents a tenfold increase in measured amplitude and approximately 31.6 times more energy release. For instance, a magnitude 6 earthquake is significantly more powerful than a magnitude 5. The Richter scale is essential for understanding the severity of earthquakes and their potential impact on communities, infrastructure, and the environment.