What is the use of Mercalli and Richter Scale?

The Mercalli Intensity Scale measures the intensity of an earthquake by observing its effect on people, the environment and the earth’s surface. The Richter Scale measures the energy released by an earthquake using a seismograph.

Why was the Mercalli scale created?

Although numerousintensity 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.

Why is the Mercalli scale subjective?

The Mercalli intensity scale tends to be very subjective and thus is generally only used for historical earthquakes that were near people but were not recorded by seismometers. Why might the Mercalli scale be subjective? It relies on testimony from people. It does not take into account distance.

What do Mercalli intensities enable us to infer?

Mercalli intensities enable us to infer the magnitude of historic earthquakes and allows us to estimate how deadly an earthquake was likely to have been moments after it occurs.

How do you spell Mercalli?

noun Geology. a measure of earthquake intensity with 12 divisions ranging from I (felt by very few) to XII (total destruction).

How is Mercalli scale different from Richter scale?

While the Mercalli scale describes the intensity of an earthquake based on its observed effects, the Richter scale describes the earthquake’s magnitude by measuring the seismic waves that cause the earthquake. The Mercalli scale is linear and the Richter scale is logarithmic.

Is the Mercalli scale objective or subjective?

For each increase of one in magnitude, there is about a 30-fold increase in the amount of energy released. Another scale measures the intensity, or the effects, of an earthquake on a particular place. The Modified Mercalli intensity scale is a subjective evaluation based on observations by people.

Is Mercalli or Richter better?

The earthquake and its impact is measured either by using the Mercalli scale or the Richter Scale. The Richter scale is more objective, but the Mercalli scale is subjective. The Mercalli scale bases its measurement on the observed effects of the earthquake and describes its intensity.