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t. e. Seismic intensity scales categorize the intensity or severity of ground shaking (quaking) at a given location, such as resulting from an earthquake. They are distinguished from seismic magnitude scales, which measure the magnitude or overall strength of an earthquake, which may, or perhaps may not, cause perceptible shaking.
However, not all of the energy released in an earthquake will necessarily be felt at the surface, depending on the earthquake's depth. In New Zealand, where earthquakes occur from near the surface right down to a depth of over 600 km, the Modified Mercalli intensity scale is a better indicator of an earthquake's effects on people and their ...
The intensity scale that we use in the United States is called the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale, but other countries use other scales. For More Information on Intensity. The Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale; Magnitude vs Intensity - Grades 4-12 activity: magnitude, intensity
Earthquake Intensity Database. 1638 - 1985. Download Database (MS Excel format; 15MB) Earthquake intensities are numerical values assigned to the effects of earthquakes on people and their works, and on the natural environment. Intensities are evaluated using the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale of 1931, which contains levels of effects ...
8.9: Magnitude vs. Intensity. Page ID. Magnitude and Intensity measure different characteristics of earthquakes. Magnitude measures the energy released at the source of the earthquake. Magnitude is determined from measurements on seismographs. Intensity measures the strength of shaking produced by the earthquake at a certain location.
Sep 29, 2023 · A modified Mercalli intensity scale is used to quantify the earthquake's effects. That's why you can't directly convert the Richter or Magnitude scale to the Mercalli scale — although the released energy, local geology, terrain, depth of an earthquake and distance from the epicenter are all still the same. Thus, the Mercalli scale describes ...
So the intensity of an earthquake will vary depending on where you are. Sometimes earthquakes are referred to by the maximum intensity they produce. In the United States, we use the Modified Mercalli (MMI) Scale. The Mercalli Scale is based on observable earthquake damage.
