Source: https://guthlabs.ai/docs/instruments/earthquake-magnitude-comparison-energy-ratio/mechanism/

instrument mechanism / verified-clean

# Earthquake Magnitude Comparison (energy ratio) mechanism

The inspectable method record for Earthquake Magnitude Comparison (energy ratio), kept separate from implementation and qualification.

Status: **VERIFIED_CLEAN**Lifecycle: **verified-clean**

## Model scope

The numerical formulas are correct under the stated assumptions, but the spec needs an explicit ΔM convention, magnitude-scale constraint, and scientifically accurate amplitude labeling before release.

- The formulas are standard only when both magnitudes use the same compatible magnitude scale and ΔM is explicitly defined as M1 − M2.

- The phrase "amplitude one quake releases" is scientifically incorrect: amplitude is a measured wave-motion quantity, not something released. Label the output as seismic-wave amplitude ratio.

- The input specification does not define which quake is the numerator/reference and therefore does not define the sign of ΔM or the direction of either ratio.

## Units and conventions

- Magnitude values are dimensionless logarithmic quantities, not physical units.

- Both magnitudes are measured on the same magnitude scale or on scales for which these relations are valid; mixing Mw, ML, Ms, or other scales without conversion is not valid.

- Define ΔM = M1 − M2. The reported ratios are quake 1 divided by quake 2.

- Energy ratio 10^(1.5·ΔM) is an approximate empirical seismic-energy relation; it assumes comparable event definitions and does not provide absolute energy.

- Amplitude ratio 10^ΔM assumes comparable amplitude measurements and the same magnitude convention.

## Inspectable vector

One of 4 source-bound review vectors:

````
{
  "inputs": {
    "magnitude_1": 6,
    "magnitude_2": 5
  },
  "expected_outputs": {
    "energy_ratio": 31.6227766017,
    "amplitude_ratio": 10
  },
  "working": "ΔM = 6.0 − 5.0 = 1.0. Energy ratio = 10^(1.5 × 1.0) = 10^1.5 = 31.6227766017. Amplitude ratio = 10^1.0 = 10.0."
}
````

## Failure boundary

**BREAK_CLAIMED** · SELF_FLAGGED

At magnitude difference ΔM = 1000, both mathematical ratios exceed JavaScript's finite numeric range and evaluate to Infinity in plain JavaScript arithmetic. The instrument should detect and flag this overflow.

## Other records

[01**Overview**](<https://guthlabs.ai/docs/instruments/earthquake-magnitude-comparison-energy-ratio/>)[03**Implementation**](<https://guthlabs.ai/docs/instruments/earthquake-magnitude-comparison-energy-ratio/implementation/>)[04**Qualification**](<https://guthlabs.ai/docs/instruments/earthquake-magnitude-comparison-energy-ratio/qualification/>)

## Sources and evidence

These pointers bind the page to evidence. They do not grant authority or collapse verification into deployment.

- `VERIFIED_LEDGER.json`

- `evidence-tranche5/tranche5-results.json`

- `BOUNDARY_HAZARD_CATALOG.json`