The Richter scale is used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes. Developed by Charles F. Richter in 1935, it quantifies the amount of energy released at the source of an earthquake. The scale is logarithmic, meaning that each whole number increase on the scale represents a tenfold increase in measured amplitude and approximately 31.6 times more energy release. This makes the Richter scale effective for conveying how powerful an earthquake is and predicting potential damage. It is important for public safety, as knowing an earthquake's magnitude helps determine appropriate emergency responses and preparedness strategies in affected areas.