- A magnitude 6.0 quake releases approximately as much energy as 6,270 tons of TNT,
- an M 7.0 199,000 tons,
- an M 8.0 6.27 million tons
- and a M 9.0 99 million tons.
- Of course, all that energy is not focused in one particular spot, but spreads out in waves.
[Information from: "Frequently Asked Earthquake Questions" - "Earthquakes - A Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On" - State of California - Department of Conservation]