Knowra Earthquake intensity Earthquake intensity Earthquake intensity describes the shaking and effects experienced at a particular location. Unlike magnitude, it can vary from place to place during the same earthquake.
Earthquake magnitude : Earthquake magnitude measures an earthquake’s size from seismic waves or fault motion. Magnitude characterizes the source; intensity describes shaking and effects at a specific place.
Modified Mercalli intensity scale : A twelve-level scale that rates earthquake effects from observations of people, objects, and structures. It is the most widely used intensity scale in the United States.
ShakeMap : ShakeMap is a system that rapidly maps earthquake shaking and its geographic variation. It combines instrumental measurements and other data to estimate shaking intensity after an event.
Moment magnitude scale : The moment magnitude scale estimates earthquake size from seismic moment, a measure of fault area, slip, and rock rigidity. It gives one source-size value, while intensity varies by location.
Seismic wave : A seismic wave is an elastic disturbance that travels through Earth or along its surface. Seismic waves carry energy from an earthquake source to places where intensity is assessed.
European Macroseismic Scale : A twelve-degree scale for classifying earthquake intensity through observed effects on people, objects, buildings, and nature. It provides a detailed, building-sensitive method for rating observed shaking effects.
Earthquake early warning : Earthquake early warning systems detect an earthquake and send alerts before strong shaking reaches some locations. Intensity estimates can help identify places likely to experience damaging shaking.
Richter magnitude scale : The Richter magnitude scale is a logarithmic measure of earthquake size based on seismic-wave amplitude. Its magnitude values are often confused with intensity ratings, though they describe different things.
Ground motion : Ground motion is the movement of the ground during an earthquake, measured by instruments or described by its effects. Its strength and character help explain why intensity differs between locations.
Isoseismal map : An isoseismal map joins places assigned the same earthquake intensity. Its contours show how reported effects and shaking vary across the affected area.
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