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 correct answer here is option B. ie "The moment of magnitude scale". Generally people are familiar with hearing mention of the Richter Scale, but that is actually a measure of the amplitude of the seismic waves and not the total energy released.

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