Intensity Description 1 not felt 4 windows rattle. Earthquake Zones Find level 2 on the Richter scale is 10 times more stronger then level 1. Another scale measures the intensity, or the effects, of an earthquake on a particular place. Alaska Earthquake The The current name used for the scale is Modified Mercalli scale and contains 12 divisions. The Mercalli Scale is based on observable earthquake damage. From a scientific standpoint, the magnitude scale is based on seismic records while the Mercalli is based on observable data which can be subjective. earthquake insurance to people living in the area. this scale measures seismic waves based on their size. To understand the difference between the intensity scale and the 1960 Chile Earthquake The 1960 Chile earthquake was the largest of the 20th Century. It was later expanded in 1902 and then again in 1931. You can tell on the map where the most destruction occurred and where the earthquake waves were not felt by people in the surrounding areas. The Richter scale measures the magnitude of an earthquake (how powerful it is). Click here to browse.Â. The scale was expanded to accommodate 12 degrees of intensity by Adolfo Cancani in 1902. © 2011-2020 Call of Fire Science Company  All rights reserved. The map above is based on people's observations and structural damage to the buildings during the 1904 San Francisco earthquake. Did you know there can be more than one intensity of an earthquake? The Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale of 1931 is the basis for the U.S. evaluation of seismic intensity.Intensity is different than the magnitude in that it is based on observations of the effects and damage of an earthquake, not on scientific measurements.This means that an earthquake may have different intensities from place to place, but it will only have one magnitude. determine the magnitude of an earthquake. Kids Earth Science links to all the categories on our website. The Mercalli scale measures the intensity of an earthquake. The Richter Scale measures the energy released by an earthquake using a seismograph. The Mercalli scale measures the intensity of an earthquake. This is a semi-quantitative scale used to evaluate ground shaking and damage. Insurance agents use the scale to determine the cost of earthquake insurance to people living in the area. 1904 San Francisco historical earthquakeSeismologists can determine the extent of damage of historical earthquakes based on the criteria now used for the Modified Mercalli scale. The Modified Mercalli measures the strength, intensity and destruction of an earthquake. devise a scale to show how an earthquake's effects diminished as you Although it confounds many variables, it is valuable in this scale produces a single rating for earthquakes that reach the surface. waves seen on ground surface. Sign up to our monthly newsletter and receive our FREE eBook containing 3 fun activities that don’t appear in any of our other books! It does not matter whether you It is determined from observations of an earthquake’s effects on people, structures, and the Earth’s surface. The Richter scale measured the quake as a magnitude 6.7 which seemed low The intensity scale consists of a series of certain key responses such as people awakening, movement of furniture, damage to chimneys, and finally - total destruction. magnitude scale you need to understand that the Richter scale uses They also use these maps to determine future housing regulations in an area. University of California during the earthquake. only the size of the largest earthquake wave on a seismogram to We respect your privacy and you can be assured that we will never share your email address or use it for any other purpose than to send you our newsletter. The scale is used to assess the damage after an Another way to measure the strength of an earthquake is to use the Mercalli scale. The Mercalli Scale. The two scales that are more commonly used in America are the Richter and Mercalli scales. Unlike with the Richter scale, the Mercalli scale does not take into account energy of an earthquake directly. Mercalli ratings are assigned by Roman numerals. They are asked if they were awakened by the earthquake, if furniture moved, was there damage to chimneys or to walls in their home. Mercalli scale An earthquake-intensity scale based on direct observation. - This scale measures seismic waves based on their size. The second house 5 miles from the epicenter had a couple of measures earthquake damage, the level of intensity of the earthquake, and the effect of the event on people. Mercalli felt the need to A major parking structure collapsed at the The Mercalli Intensity Scale measures the intensity of an earthquake by observing its effect on people, the environment and the earth’s surface. 1 not felt. Earthquake intensity scales describe the severity of an earthquake’s effects on the Earth's surface, humans, and buildings at different locations in the area of the epicenter. The Mercalli scale is commonly used by scientists after large earthquakes to discover the destruction caused by the earthquake in areas surrounding the epicenter of the earthquake.The larger the earthquake the higher the numbers used to show intensities on a map. damage. Which statements describe the mercalli scale? list the earthquake with the same magnitude. 2012-2017 Ring of Fire Science Company. Local planning commissions use the scale to determine regulations The Kids Fun Science Bookstore covers a wide range of earth science topics. The Kids Fun Science Bookstore covers a wide range of earth science topics. Award Winning Earth Science Materials at our Bookstore. Which statement describes the Mercalli scale? The intensity decreases as the distance from the epicenter increases until there is no effect felt by the earthquake. Intensity map of 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The scale looks at areas surrounding the epicenter and a buildings, dams and other major structures. Observed damages caused by large earthquakesThe lower divisions of the  scale deals with how the earthquake was felt by people. Figure 2 - Giuseppe Mercalli. These range from imperceptible shaking to catastrophic destruction, designated by Roman numerals. Its name comes from the modifications made to it in the 1890s by an Italian volcanologist, Giuseppe Mercalli. Primary Waves Find out about primary waves which are the first earthquake waves to reach reporting stations. Earthquakes can have a range of intensities but only one magnitude. A base-10 logarithmic scale is obtained by calculating the logarithm of the amplitude of waves recorded by the seismograph. cracks in the wall but no other structural damage. areas. At level VIII, for example, walls, chimneys, and columns tumble, and there is considerable damage to ordinary buildings, with partial collapse. 8 sand and mud ejected. waves seen on ground surface The Richter Scale measures the magnitude of … Although numerous intensity scales have been developed over the last several hundred years to evaluate the effects of earthquakes, the one currently used in the United States is the Modified Mercalli (MM) Intensity Scale. - This scale rates an earthquake according to how much damage it causes. He revised his scale in 1902. actually the Richter scale and the Mercalli scale are to completely different scales to measure to completely different things. The calculation used by them or Mercalli scale is quantified from observation of the effects on the earth … This scale People fill out reports on what happened to them during an earthquake. Century. out about the discoveries that have been made by scientists using earthquake. Officials use intensity mapsCity officials and insurance companies use the intensity map after an earthquake to assess the damage to a town or region. The Mercalli intensity scale (or more precisely the Modified Mercalli intensity scale) is a scale to measure the intensity of earthquakes. Magnitude is logarithmemic. Once house was 3 miles from the epicenter and suffered total - This scale measures the magnitude of an earthquake based on the size of seismic waves. Roman numerals I to XII are used to show the effects of the earthquake. Intensity map of 1906 San Francisco earthquake, USGS. While the Mercalli scale describes the intensity of an earthquake based on its observed effects , the Richter scale describes the earthquake's magnitude by measuring the seismic waves generated by an earthquake. The map has circles radiating out from the epicenter of the earthquake with Roman numerals showing the intensity of the earthquake in different areas. ©Copyright 1994 were suddenly awaken by shaking that last between 10 and 20 Intensity map of 1906 San Francisco earthquake,USGS used to describe the amount of energy released in an earthquake. Mercalli scale uses the observation of people who experienced the earthquake, to estimate the intensity. The intensity Check out Myrna Martin's award winning textbooks, e-books, videos and rock sets. to people living in the area. Earthquake Facts Find The Mercalli scale measures the intensity of an earthquake by quantifying the effects of an earthquake on the Earth's surface. The Richter scale measures how strong the earth quake is starting at 1 to 10 but each level on the scale is 10 times stronger than the previous one, e.g. 4 windows rattle. It is influenced by the amount of kinetic energy released, the substrate, the buildings, etc. Earthquakes, until recently, have been measured on the Richter scale. out more about earthquake zones that outline tectonic plate boundaries damages in those areas. Click here to browse.Â. This scale is composed of 12 increasing levels of intensity based on observed effects. plates. series of rings are drawn around the epicenter on maps. Insurance companies use projections to determine earthquake insurance. The larger the earthquake the higher the numbers used to show intensities on a map. He was an Italian volcanologist that used only six categories. Local planning commissions use the scale to determine regulations that need to be in place so people have homes that are safe during earthquakes. The Intensity maps show areas of destructionThe 1904 San Francisco has an estimated 7.9 magnitude on the moment magnitude and had a maximum intensity of XI. are sent out to people living in areas where destruction took place. The Modified Mercalli Scale measures the amount of shaking at a particular location. The damage to structures The Mercalli scale is commonly used by scientists after large earthquakes to discover the destruction caused by the earthquake in areas surrounding the epicenter of the earthquake. surveys ask people about damage to their homes and other structures earthquakes. scale listed the hardest hit areas as IX showing major structural