Final answer:
The statement is true; the Richter Magnitude Scale underestimated the size of large earthquakes, leading to the adoption of the Moment Magnitude Scale. The Richter scale uses a semi-log plot which is logarithmic in nature and becomes less accurate for magnitudes higher than 7.0.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is true that the Richter Magnitude Scale underestimated the size of large earthquakes, and for that reason, scientists now use the Moment Magnitude Scale. The Richter scale is logarithmic and rates earthquakes on a scale that relates their amplitude and the energy they carry, with examples being 2.3, 4.0, 6.1, and 7.0. However, the Richter scale's accuracy diminishes for earthquakes with magnitudes larger than approximately 7.0, and this is where the Moment Magnitude Scale becomes more effective in quantifying the energy released by larger seismic events.
The Richter scale uses a semi-log plot, with a logarithmic scale measuring the degree of ground movement plotted against the assigned intensity level of the earthquake. This method of plotting data is particularly useful for displaying a wide range of values in a compact form. The numbers associated with the Richter scale, such as 2.1, 5.0, or 6.7, represent the amount of energy released by an earthquake and are an example of logarithmic data.
.