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Intensity and magnitude

Intensity and magnitude. An earthquake ’ s intensity refers to the effects it causes. It is a subjective value measured by the Mercalli scale. The magnitude of an earthquake is a measurement of how much energy it releases. It is an objective value measured by the Richter scale.

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Intensity and magnitude

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  1. Intensity and magnitude • An earthquake’s intensity refers to the effects it causes. It is a subjective value measured by the Mercalli scale. • The magnitude of an earthquake is a measurement of how much energy it releases. It is an objective value measured by the Richter scale. The Mercalli scale The Richter scale Table summarising the scales and observed damage Click on each box to find out more.

  2. The Mercalli scale • The Mercalli scale is used to measure the intensity of an earthquake. • It has 12 degrees. • The lower degrees of the scale deal with how the earthquake is felt by people, while the higher levels are related to observed structural damage (collapsed buildings, roads, etc.). Go back to the start menu

  3. The Richter scale • This scale measures the magnitudeof an earthquake. • It is a logarithmic scale (for each whole number increase on the scale, 32 times more energy is released). It has no upper limit. • The Richter scale assigns a numeric value to the energy an earthquake releases. • The most devastating earthquakes measure about 9 on the Richter scale. The earthquake that hit Japan in 2011, for example, had a magnitude of 8.8 on the Richter scale. Go back to the start menu

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