Earthquake Intensity scales

LECTURE
Intensity Scales
 Seismic intensity scale is a way of measuring or
rating the effects of an earthquake at different sites.
It does not require instrumental records, depends very
much on the acuity of the observer and its principle
subjective.
intensity to different areas can be assigned based on
visual observations and interviews of residents or
based on evaluation of questionnaires completed by
residents of that area
Intensity data are very useful for the development of
seismic risk map of a region or country.
Intensity data is also important in determining the
historic earthquakes
Different intensity scales are used for measuring or
rating the effects of earthquakes
Rosssi- Forel intensity scale was developed in the late
19th century , have ten stages to describe the
earthquake effects in increasing order
Mercalli (1902)proposed intensity an scale in which
earthquake severity was classified in twelve stages
The mercalli intensity scale was modified in 1931
To suit the building conditions of united states,the
modifies version of Mercalli intensity scale is known
as modified mercalli intensity (MMI) scale.
MSK (Medvedev-Spoonheuer-Karnik) intensity scale
was introduced in 1964 has twevel stages and differ
from MMI scale mainly in detials.
Intensity scale differs from the magnitude scale in that
the effects of an earthquake vary greatly from place to
place, so there may be many intensity values for one
earthquake on other hand there is only one magnitude
value for an earthquake
Msk intensity scale

In assigning the MSK intensity at a site due to attention

is paid to the type of structures , percentage of damage
to each type of structure and grade of damage to
different types of structures and details of intensity
scale.
 Mercalli intensity scale
 I. Instrumental Not felt by many people unless in favourable conditions.
mostly detected by instruments

 II. Feeble Felt only by a few people at best, especially on the upper floors of
buildings. Delicately suspended objects may swing.

 III. Slight Felt quite noticeably by people indoors, especially on the upper
floors of buildings. Many do not recognize it as an earthquake. Standing motor
cars may rock slightly. Vibration similar to the passing of a truck. Duration
estimated.

 IV. Moderate Felt indoors by many people, outdoors by few people during the
day. At night, some awakened. Dishes, windows, doors disturbed; walls make
cracking sound. Sensation like heavy truck striking building. Standing motor
cars rock noticeably. Dishes and windows rattle alarmingly.
 V. Rather Strong Felt outside by most, may not be felt by some
outside in non-favourable conditions. Dishes and windows may
break and large bells will ring. Vibrations like large train passing
close to house.
 VI. Strong Felt by all; many frightened and run outdoors, walk
unsteadily. Windows, dishes, glassware broken; books fall off
shelves; some heavy furniture moved or overturned; a few
instances of fallen plaster. Damage slight.
 VII. Very Strong Difficult to stand; furniture broken; damage
negligible in building of good design and construction; slight to
moderate in well-built ordinary structures; considerable damage in
poorly built or badly designed structures; some chimneys broken.
Noticed by people driving motor cars.
VIII. Destructive Damage slight in specially designed
structures; considerable in ordinary substantial buildings with
partial collapse. Damage great in poorly built structures. Fall of
chimneys, factory stacks, columns, monuments, walls. Heavy
furniture moved.

 IX. Ruinous General panic; damage considerable in specially

designed structures, well designed frame structures thrown out of
plumb. Damage great in substantial buildings, with partial collapse.
Buildings shifted off foundations.

X. Disastrous Some well built wooden structures

destroyed; most masonry and frame structures destroyed with
foundation. Rails bent.
 XI. Very Disastrous Few, if any masonry
structures remain standing. Bridges destroyed. Rails
bent greatly.
XII. Catastrophic Total damage -
Almost everything is destroyed. Lines of sight and
level distorted. Objects thrown into the air. The ground
moves in waves or ripples. Large amounts of rock may
move position.
The Richter And Mercalli Scales
Richter Scale Magnitude Mercalli Intensity

≥ 8 XII
7.4 -7.9 XI
7.0-7.3 X
6.2-6.9 VII- IX
5.5-6.1 VI-VII
4.9- 5.4 V
4.3-4.8 IV
3.5- 4.2 II-III
≤ 3.4 I
What is the difference between intensity scales and magnitude scales?

Intensity scales, like the Modified Mercalli Scale and the

Rossi-Forel scale, measure the amount of shaking at a particular
location. So the intensity of an earthquake will vary depending
on where you are. Sometimes earthquakes are referred to by the
maximum intensity they produce.
Magnitude scales, like the Richter magnitude and
moment magnitude, measure the size of the earthquake
at its source. So they do not depend on where the
measurement is made. Often, several slightly different
magnitudes are reported for an earthquake. This
happens because the relation between the seismic
measurements and the magnitude is complex and
different procedures will often give slightly different
magnitudes for the same earthquake.
PHIVOLCS Earthquake Intensity Scale (PEIS)
It was developed as upon a specific response to
the 1990 Luzon earthquake. PHIVOLCS cites seismic
scale specifically developed for the Philippine setting,
the different geography of each country and other
"geological considerations" led to the development of
PEIS.
The scale measures the effect of an earthquake on a
given area based on its relative effect to people,
structures and objects in the surroundings. The PEIS
was adopted in the Philippines in 1996 replacing the
Rossi-Forel scale.
The PEIS has ten intensity scales represented in
Roman numerals with Intensity I being the weakest
and Intensity X being the strongest
END