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Use of Geothermal Resources: Environmental Considerations 249

For the seismic events associated with geothermal development, the vast majority fall at magnitudes of less than
2.0 and MMI values of less than II. Whether larger events occur remains a matter of debate. Thus far, of those events
purported to be associated with geothermal activities, the largest magnitude appears to have been around 4.5.

reFerences
Abe, K. 1995. “Magnitudes and Moments of Earthquakes.” In Global Earth Physics, ed. T. J. Ahrens, 206–13.
Washington, DC: American Geophysical Union Handbook of Physical Constants.
Bolt, B. 1988. Earthquakes. New York: W.H. Freeman.
Gutenberg, B., and C. F. Richter. 1956. “Magnitude and Energy of Earthquakes.” Annals of Geofisks (Rome) 9:1–15.
Richter, C. F. 1935. “An Instrumental Earthquake Magnitude Scale.” Geological Society of America Bulletin
25:1–32.