The rating system that estimates the total energy released by an earthquake is called the a. richter scale. b. moment magnitude scale. c. mechanical seismograph scale. d. mercalli scale.

The rating system that is used to estimate the energy released by earthquake is moment magnitude scale.This rating system estimates the total energy released by an earthquake.The magnitude of earthquake tells the energy released by it. An increase in 1 point of magnitude denotes 32 times increase in energy .The more the magnitude the more is the effect of earthquake. This scale can be used for all the earthquakes of any size and at any location.