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 Richter 19001985 and technically known as the local magnitude scale, it has been superseded by the moment magnitude scale, which was.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