Difference between magnitude and intensity of earthquake pdf handout

Understanding the magnitude and intensity of an earthquake. Lo i can summarize differences in earthquake intensity and. Mercalli intensity of an earthquake of magnitude 1. The intensity of an earthquake is often affected by the distance from the epicenter and often is less further from the epicenter. Noticeable shaking of indoor items, rattling noises. Seismic magnitude scales are used to describe the overall strength or size of an earthquake. Magnitude often called richter magnitude can be any number at all the scale is. A 0 level richter rating cannot even be felt by a person, while a rating of 8 shakes hard enough to crumble buildings. The richter magnitude scale what is the difference between. Pdf on estimation of earthquake magnitude and intensity. The correlation between intensity and magnitude of earthquake are provided in table 4. Learn more about the causes and effects of earthquakes in this article.

When this stress becomes great enough to rupture the crust, or to overcome the friction that prevents one block of crust from slipping past another, energy is released, some of it in the form of various kinds of seismic waves that cause groundshaking, or quaking. The richter magnitude scale, also known as the local magnitude m scale, assigns a number to quantify the amount of seismic energy released by an earthquake. Definition of an earthquake an earthquake also known as a quake, tremor or temblor is the result of a sudden release of energy in the earths crust that creates seismic waves. The richter magnitude scale measures the amount of seismic energy released by an earthquake.

The length of the wiggle depends on the size of the fault, and the size of the wiggle depends on the amount of slip. Several scales have been defined, but the most commonly used are 1 local magnitude ml, commonly referred to as richter magnitude, 2 surfacewave magnitude ms, 3 body. Earthquake intensity is very different from earthquake magnitude. Mercalli scale vs richter scale difference and comparison. I can summarize differences in earthquake intensity and magnitude measurement of earthquakes earthquake magnitude magnitude is measured on a logarithmic scale. Each number increase on the richter scale indicates an intensity ten times stronger.

An intensity scale measures that physical damage done by an earthquake. Definition of an earthquake an earthquake also known as a quake, tremor or temblor is the result of a sudden release of energy. Earthquake magnitude is a property of the earthquake itself, and does not change for a given earthquake regardless of where the earthquake is recorded. Magnitude typical maximum modified mercalli intensity 1. Notice the difference in effort it takes to break the bundle. Be sure you have an application to open this file type before downloading. Earthquake magnitude, intensity, energy, and acceleration 107 be about 16 kin.

The relationship between richter magnitude and modified. The richter magnitude scale what is the difference. Magnitude is based on measurement of the maximum motion recorded by a seismograph. Our online earthquake trivia quizzes can be adapted to suit your requirements for taking some of the top earthquake quizzes. 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. Magnitudeintensity pacific northwest seismic network. Moment magnitude is more effective for large earthquakes moment magnitude uses more variables to calculate the energy released using seismic moment. Handout primarily discussing the modified mercalli scale. As the richter scale does not adequately differentiate between the largest earthquakes, a new moment magnitude scale is being used by seismologists to provide a better measure.

The richter magnitude scale measures the amount of seismic energy released by an earthquake when an earthquake occurs, its magnitude can be given a single numerical. Table 1 presents the difference between magnitude and intensity of earthquake. A handout for the valleymountain shaking model by john r. These are distinguished from seismic intensity scales that categorize the intensity or severity of ground shaking quaking caused by an earthquake at a given location. E30m1 using the above mathematical equation, make a plot of earthquake energy release e, vertical axis vs. Magnitude versus intensity magnitude of an earthquake is a measure of its size. Sold and serviced by participating insurance companies. For example, an earthquake of magnitude 6 is ten times stronger than an earthquake of magnitude 5. Beno gutenberg, developed a relationship between magnitude and energy. Both the earthquake magnitude and the seismic moment are related to the amount of energy that is radiated by an earthquake. Each division represents a 10fold increase in ground motion and a 32times increase in energy released example. Earthquake size is a quantitative measure of the size of the earthquake at its source. Earthquake intensity is a ranking based on the observed effects of an earthquake in each particular place. The most widely used intensity scale, the modified mercalli scale, is divided into.

Earthquake magnitude linking earthquake magnitude and. What is the difference between earthquake magnitude and. Can totally destroy communities near the epicenter. It is a measure of earthquake size and is determined from the logarithm of the maximum displacement or amplitude of the earthquake signal as seen on the seismogram, with a correction for the distance between the focus and the seismometer. An earthquake of magnitude 2 is the smallest earthquake normally felt by humans. The force at which an earthquake shakes the ground is measured with the richter scale, which rates the earthquake s actual force on a scale from 0 to 9. Earthquakes with a richter value of 5 or higher are potentially damaging. Difference between magnitude and intensity difference. Scaling relation between the moment magnitude m w and the characteristic period. Intensity scales, like the modified mercalli scale and the rossiforel scale, measure the amount of shaking at a particular location. Earthquake magnitude is commonly used to represent the size of an earthquake. This means that the magnitude of the earthquake is a single value for a given earthquake. But according the geological condition and the distance from epicenter the intensity damage may vary from place to place for the same earthquake. Earthquakes occur most often along geologic faults, narrow zones where rock masses move in relation to one another.

Earthquake magnitude can be measured in a variety of ways, most commonly moment magnitude or richter magnitude. What is the difference between magnitude and intensity. As nouns the difference between magnitude and intensity is that magnitude is uncountablecountable the absolute or relative size, extent or importance of something while. Often, several slightly different magnitudes are reported for an earthquake. The severity of earthquake shaking is assessed using a descriptive scale the modified mercalli intensity scale. Difference between earthquake magnitude and intensity. A california earthquake authority cea sample policy which provides basic earthquake coverage for renters. Intensity, magnitude, location, and attenuation in india. A magnitude scale measures the energy that the seismic waves send out. Magnitudes are usually determined from measurements of an earthquakes seismic waves as recorded on a seismogram.

A comprehensive database of more than 51 earthquake quizzes online, test your knowledge with earthquake quiz questions. No problem, the usgs calculates the difference between a 5. Magnitude and intensity are both measurements that are done when an earthquake occurs. Earthquake, any sudden shaking of the ground caused by the passage of seismic waves through earths rocks. The type of ground you are on makes a big difference. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.

It is based on the observations and descriptions of people, those living in the area where the earthquake occurred and also the engineers or scientists estimating the damage to structures. Earth science earthquakes, volcanoes and plate tectonics file. The size of the earthquake is called its magnitude. The number indicating magnitude or intensity on richter scale ranges between 0 and 9 but actually the scale has no upper limit of number because it is an open ended and logarithmic scale. The 1989 loma prieta earthquake that struck san francisco had a magnitude of 7. Intensity, magnitude, location, and attenuation in india for felt earthquakes since 1762 by walter szeliga, susan hough, stacey martin, and roger bilham abstract a comprehensive, consistently interpreted new catalog of felt intensities for india martin and szeliga, 2010, this issue includes intensities for 570 earth.

Whats the difference between quake magnitude, intensity. This intensity is given normally in mercalli scale. The magnitude do not depend on where the measurement is made. Intensity decreases as we move farther from the epicenter. An earthquake of magnitude 7 is times strong than an earthquake of magnitude 5. Helps students understnad difference between magnitude and intensity locations of earthquake epicenters on earth map here are a few nice usgs maps that might be useful. Phivolcs again made a distinction between magnitude and intensity, explaining that the former is an absolute measure of the power generated by an earthquake, while the latter refers to how the strong the quake feels in certain areas. Several scales have been defined, but the most commonly used are 1 local magnitude ml, commonly referred to as richter magnitude, 2 surfacewave magnitude ms, 3 bodywave magnitude mb, and 4 moment. Pdf on estimation of earthquake magnitude and intensity of. Magnitude and intensity of earthquake linkedin slideshare. This happens because the relation between the seismic measurements and the magnitude is complex and different.

Earthquake magnitude, intensity, energy, and acceleration by. The force at which an earthquake shakes the ground is measured with the richter scale, which rates the earthquakes actual force on a scale from 0 to 9. But, an earthquake in a densely populated area that results in many deaths and considerable damage high intensity may have the same magnitude as an earthquake in a remote area that does no more. If the pasta magnitude scale were like the earthquake magnitude scale this would be a pasta magnitude of 2. Magnitude of the richter scale activity teachengineering. The magnitude of earthquake is determined from measurements on seismographs, whereas the intensity is determined from effects on people, human structures, and the natural environment. The magnitude is a number that characterizes the relative size of an earthquake. Earthquake magnitude and intensity chart insurance. Most of what is stated is theoretical theoretically the largest possible is a magnitude 10 on the moment magnitude scale mms, however that is in our modern thinking, that doesnt say that it isnt possible to have anything above a magnitude 10. Need some further practice relating earthquake magnitude to energy.

Some of the worlds largest recorded earthquakeson january 31, 1906, off the coast of colombia and ecuador, and on march 2, 1933, off the east coast of honshu, japanhad magnitudes of 8. What is the ratio of energy release from a magnitude 5 earthquake compared to a magnitude 6. Earthquake intensity mustafa fahmi hasanmustafa mohammed rashid 2011 november 2. Thus it is clear that magnitude is a fixed value independent of distance from the epicenter of the earthquake, whereas intensity varies and is measured differently at different places depending upon its distance from the epicenter. The most widely used intensity scale, the modified mercalli scale, is divided into 12 degrees, each identified by a roman numeral. Magnitude also affects intensity, since an earthquake of a higher magnitude has a higher intensity than an earthquake of lower magnitude. What is the difference between an intensity scale and a magnitude scale. On the moment magnitude scale, the san francisco earthquake is estimated at magnitude 7.

British geological survey seismology monitoring page. Intensity, however, describes the degree of shaking caused by an earthquake at a given place and decreases with distance from the earthquake epicentre. This happens because the relation between the seismic measurements and the. Learning earthquake tip 3 earthquake design and construction. Magnitude scales, like the moment magnitude, measure the size of the earthquake at its source. The difference between a 7 and a 8 earth are as follows. Varies at different distances from the epicenter, but one value is given for the earthquake as a whole. Helps students understnad difference between magnitude and intensity. Seismic moment combines the seismic energy with offset on the fault and rigidity of rock. For instance, one can measure the size of an earthquake by the amount of strain energy released by the fault rupture. As nouns the difference between magnitude and intensity is that magnitude is uncountablecountable the absolute or relative size, extent or importance of something while intensity is the quality of being intense. Discuss the primary difference between using intensity and magnitude to characterize earthquake energy.

An earthquake of magnitude 8 is times stronger than an earthquake of magnitude 5. How much greater was the shaking in 1906 earthquake compared with the. The second difference is that an earthquake has only one magnitude, while its intensity will be different at the different. Magnitude intensity comparison the following table gives intensities that are typically observed at locations near the epicenter of earthquakes of different magnitudes. Difference between magnitude and intensity of earthquake. However, most people want to understand how much impact or damage earthquakes do. A sample california earthquake authority cea policy which provides basic earthquake coverage for homeowners. Was sendai, japans magnitude larger or smaller than the other earthquakes listed.