Moment magnitude is the best single measure of the total energy released, i. Intensity and intensity scales gfzpublic gfzpotsdam. Damage potential categories were assigned following the model. The modified mercalli intensity scale mm or mmi, descended from giuseppe mercalli s mercalli intensity scale of 1902, is a seismic intensity scale used for measuring the intensity of shaking produced by an earthquake.
Devised in 1935 by the american seismologist charles f. Unlike with the richter scale, the mercalli scale does not take into account energy of an earthquake directly. There are two commonlyused ways of rating earthquakes. A measure of intensity earthquake intensity is a measure of the effects of an earthquake at a particular place. The activities can be done at any time in the weeks leading up to the shakeout drill. In this richter and mercalli scale learning exercise, students answer questions about these two types of scales and how to read each. Find mercalli intensity scale lesson plans and teaching resources.
It is a relative scale, because people experience different amounts of shaking in different places. Modified mercalli intensity scale, the a description of the modified. Mercalli intensity scale simple english wikipedia, the free. When finished with all the cards, each location on the map should have an associated mercalli scale intensity attached to it.
The modified mercalli intensity scale mmi is a useful tool for assessing earthquakerelated property risk. Page 1richter scale introduction and historical development information. Spill of national significance 2007 us epa archive document. Watch this video, and you will be an expert on it all. The mercalli scale was used earlier than the richter scale. Map of earthquake and tsunami damage potential for a open. Seismic intensity scales categorize the intensity or severity of ground shaking quaking at a given location, such as resulting from an earthquake. Richter and mercalli scales earthquake scale introduction. However, routine practice in japan seems to be largely to rely on estimates of. This scale, composed of increasing levels of intensity that range from imperceptible shaking to. They use the modified mercalli intensity scale and newspaper articles to estimate the strength and effects of a past earthquake.
The mmi scale estimates the shaking strength of an. The methods of presentation and routine data reporting can. The modified mercalli intensity sc ale mm or mmi, descended from giu seppe mercalli s mercalli intensit y scale of 1902, is a seismic inte nsity scale used for measuring the intensity of shaking produced by an earthquake. Second, the modified mercalli scales measures how people feel and react to the shaking of an earthquake. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. By rating earthquakes, engineers can predict which quakes are going to cause the most damage and warn humans about them. Intensity scales, like the modified mercalli scale and the rossiforel scale, measure the amount of shaking at a particular location.
They are distinguished from seismic magnitude scales, which measure the magnitude or overall strength of an earthquake, which may, or perhaps not, cause perceptible shaking. While the mercalli scale measures the perceived damage, the richter scale magnitude is a quantitative measure of an earthquakes power, as the richter scale measures displacement via seismic waves. Some intensity scales in the past, such as the modified mercalli scale in its 1956 incarnation. Handout primarily discussing the modified mercalli scale. The modified mercalli intensity scale revisions arising from new zealand experience article pdf available in bulletin of the new zealand society for earthquake engineering 4 september. An earthquake causes many different intensities of shaking in the area of the epicenter where it occurs. The richter magnitude scale is a scale that assigns earthquakes a number between 1 and 10 in order of increasing intensity. They need to sort them into the correct order by looking at the language used at each level. It is advisable to plan such investigations as much as possible before an. Eighth grade lesson earthquakes day 12 betterlesson. The value for each of these factors depends upon a targeted confidence level defined separately in this report. Pdf the modified mercalli intensity scale revisions.
Generate, develop, test and communicate design ideas, plans and processes for. The mercalli intensity scale or more precisely the modified mercalli intensity scale is a scale to measure the intensity of earthquakes. It measures the effects of an earthquake at a given location, distinguished from the earthquakes inherent force or. Students study the main methods to measure earthquakes. Marginal and longperiod effects of large earthquakes.
For example, the intensity of ground shaking used in the pml calculation generally assumes a 10% chance of exceedance in 50 years. Earthquake intensity and classification are commonly measured using two different scales, the maximum modified mercalli intensity scale mmi and the richter magnitude scale often shortened to richter scale. It was developed in 1931 by the american seismologists harry wood and frank neumann. Because of these shortcomings, moment magnitude is the most common scale used by the united states geological survey usgs. The richter scale, developed in the 1930s, is a base10 logarithmic scale, that defines magnitude as the logarithm o the ratio o the amplitude o the seismic waves tae an arbitrar, minor amplitude, as recordit on a staundardised seismograph at a staundart distance. Three of the most common measures of earthquakes are movement magnitude, modified mercalli intensity mmi scale and acceleration. Pdf prediction of modified mercalli intensity from pga, pgv. Richter 19001985 and technically known as the local magnitude scale, it has been superseded by the moment magnitude scale, which was. Abbreviated modified mercalli intensity scale 63 44. It labels an earthquake from i to xii depending on the effects of the earthquake. Rather, they classify earthquakes by the effects they have and the destruction they cause. Earthquake intensitywhat controls the shaking you feel. A 10value scale which had been in use in europe since 1883 was refined in 1902 by. It is determined from observations of an earthquakes effects on people, structures, and the earths surface.
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 earthquakes effects on people and their environment. Modified mercalli scale intensity effects pgagals i not felt. Eighth grade lesson earthquakes day 22 betterlesson. The modified mercalli intensity scale is a semiquantitative linear scale developed in 1931 by the american seismologists harry wood and frank neumann. Richters version became instead the modified mercalli scale of 1956 mm56. In this lesson, children look at the two scales used to measure the severity of an earthquake the richter scale and the mercalli scale. The mercalli intensity scale was developed by italian volcanologist giuseppe mercalli in 1884 and expanded to include 12 degrees of intensity in 1902 by adolfo cancani. Set of programs, source and compiled versions menu driven. Modified mercalli intensity scale, liquid sand, liquefaction, new madrid seismic zone, lateral spread landslides, interagency.
This scale is composed of 12 increasing levels of intensity, designated by roman numerals, ranging from imperceptible shaking to catastrophic destruction. The worksheet gives them the descriptions levels of each of these scales jumbled up. Mercalli scale vs richter scale difference and comparison. Magnitude versus intensity lesson pdf classroom lesson to teach the difference between earthquake magnitude and earthquake intensities 8. The richter scale and the mercalli intensity scale. Pdf despite technological advances in seismic instrumentation, the assessment of the intensity of an earthquake using an observational scale as given. Mercalli scale synonyms, mercalli scale pronunciation, mercalli scale translation, english dictionary definition of mercalli scale.
Modified mercalli scale uwi seismic research centre. They answer questions about the mercalli scale and richter scale given percentages and magnitudes of. Mar 20, 20 have you ever wondered about who invented the mercalli intensity scale. Moment magnitude is a different measure from the richter scale, which was designed in 1935 for small to medium earthquakes in california, within 600 km of the recording seismograph. Mercalli intensity scale article about mercalli intensity. The modified mercalli intensity scale for earthquake insurance.
New zealand scientists have modified it further to suit new zealand conditions. A scale of earthquake intensity based on observed effects and ranging from i to xii. The richter magnitude scale m l, also richter scale assigns a magnitude nummer tae quantify the size o an yirdquauk. Some intensity scales in the past, such as the modified mercalli scale in its 1956. May 25, 2017 earthquake intensitywhat controls the shaking you feel. Have you ever wondered about who invented the mercalli intensity scale. Mercalli intensity scale synonyms, mercalli intensity scale pronunciation, mercalli intensity scale translation, english dictionary definition of mercalli intensity scale. Use this worksheet to help students synthesize the levels of the mercalli scale. It is known today as the modified mercalli intensity scale. Richter scale vs mercalli scale richter scale and mercalli. In this workshop, participants use simple materials to build small scale shake platforms and. Mercalli scale definition of mercalli scale by the free. Richter and mercalli scales earthquake scale activities historical development and informationintroduce students to two earthquake scales. Measuring earthquakes lesson plan and worksheet teaching.
Mercalli scale illustrated activity teachengineering. The intensity of an earthquake is listed along with effects on the modified mercalli scale in this printable guide. For one and some may even arrive with this prior knowledge, there is a correlation between mercalli intensity and richter scale magnitude. The modified mercalli intensity scale, us government. Modified mercalli scale intensity effects pga gals i not felt. They make a model of a seismograph and investigate which structural designs are most likely to survive an earthquake. What is the difference between magnitude and intensity. So the intensity of an earthquake will vary depending on where you are. The mercalli intensity scale is another seismic scale. However, routine practice in japan seems to be largely to rely on estimates of intensity made. The modified mercalli intensity scale sandiegocounty. Mercalli intensity scale definition of mercalli intensity.
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