The effect of an earthquake on the Earth's surface is called the

intensity. 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. 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. It was developed in 1931 by the American
seismologists Harry Wood and Frank Neumann. This scale, composed
of increasing levels of intensity that range from imperceptible shaking
to catastrophic destruction, is designated by Roman numerals. It does
not have a mathematical basis; instead it is an arbitrary ranking
based on observed effects.
What is the difference between the
Richter Scale and the Mercalli Scale
The Richter scale measures how much energy the earthquake
releases .

The Mercalli scale is a measure of how an earth quake feels

Earthquake Magnitude , Intensity
and Acceleration
Magnitude Typical Maximum
Peak Ground Estimated Number
(Richter Modified Mercalli
acceleration (ms2) Each Year
Scale) Intensity
1.0 - 3.0 I <0.008 900,000

3.0 - 3.9 II - III 0.008 - 0.025 20000

4.0 - 4.9 IV - V 0.025 - 0.25 10000

5.0 - 5.9 VI - VII 0.25 0.80 500

6.0 - 6.9 VII - IX 0.80 2.5 100

One in every 5 to
6.9 - 7.3 X 2.5 4.0
10 year
7.3 8.1 XI Greater than 4.0

8.1 < XII

Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale
Abbreviated Modified Mercalli
Intensity Scale
I. Felt by almost no one.
II. Felt only by a few persons at rest, especially on upper floors of
buildings.

III. Felt quite noticeably by persons indoors, especially on upper floors

of buildings. Many people do not recognize it as an earthquake.
Standing motor cars may rock slightly. Vibrations similar to the
passing of a truck. Duration estimated.

IV. Felt indoors by many, outdoors by few during the day. At night,
some awakened. Dishes, windows, doors disturbed; walls make
cracking sound. Sensation like heavy truck striking building.
Standing motor cars rocked noticeably.
Abbreviated Modified Mercalli
Intensity Scale (4.0 -6.9)
V. Felt by nearly everyone; many awakened. Some dishes, windows
broken. Unstable objects overturned. Pendulum clocks may stop.

VI. Felt by all, many frightened. Some heavy furniture moved; a few
instances of fallen plaster. Damage slight.

VII. Damage negligible in buildings 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.

VIII. Damage slight in specially designed structures; considerable

damage in ordinary substantial buildings with partial collapse.
Damage great in poorly built structures. Fall of chimneys, factory
stacks, columns, monuments, walls. Heavy furniture overturned.
Abbreviated Modified Mercalli
Intensity Scale (6.9 < )
IX. 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. Some well-built wooden structures destroyed; most masonry and

frame structures destroyed with foundations. Rails bent.

XI. Few, if any (masonry) structures remain standing. Bridges

destroyed. Rails bent greatly.

XII. Damage total. Lines of sight and level are distorted. Objects
thrown into the air.
99% of the houses in Taiping township were damaged in
the magnitude-7 earthquake which hit Sichuan (2013-04-24)
1964 Alaska Earth quake 9.2
most powerful earthquake
Rank Date Location Event Magnitude
1 May 22, 1960 Valdivia, Chile 1960 Valdivia earthquake 9.49.6

Prince William Sound, Alaska, United

2 March 27, 1964 1964 Alaska earthquake 9.2
States

2004 Indian Ocean

3 December 26, 2004 Indian Ocean, Sumatra, Indonesia 9.19.3
earthquake

4 March 11, 2011 Pacific Ocean, Thoku region, Japan 2011 Thoku earthquake 9.1[4]

Kamchatka, Russian SFSR, Soviet

5 November 4, 1952 1952 Kamchatka earthquakes 9.0[5]
Union

6 August 13, 1868 Arica, Chile (then Peru) 1868 Arica earthquake 8.59.0 (est.)

Pacific Ocean, USA and Canada (then

7 January 26, 1700 claimed by the Spanish Empire and 1700 Cascadia earthquake 8.79.2 (est.)
the British Empire)

8 July 9, 869 Pacific Ocean, Thoku region, Japan 869 Sanriku earthquake 8.9 (est.)

Chittagong, Bangladesh (then Kingdom

9 April 2, 1762 1762 Arakan earthquake 8.8 (est.)
of Mrauk U)

Sumatra, Indonesia (then part of

10 November 25, 1833 1833 Sumatra earthquake 8.8 (est.)
the Dutch East Indies)