Earthquakes

Seismic Waves:
Measuring and Comparing
Earthquakes
 Richter Magnitude Scale
Richter Magnitude Scale (M)
An objective scale that measures the amplitude of the seismic waves
on a seismogram made by a seismometer exactly 100 km away from
epicentre.
Of course this is very unlikely, so it is calculated by an equation
Richter arbitrarily set M0 to represent 1 micrometre of displacement
on a seismogram
The scale is logarithmic, the scale increases by factors of 10
Each increase of 1 Magnitude = 10 times more displacement and 30
times more energy
An increase of 2 magnitudes equals 100x displacement and 900x
energy
Problems:
Can measure negative values
Cannot adequately measure over M8
Amplitude of a Seismic Wave

A seismosgraph recording showing amplitude of the P-wave.

(“EASC111-LabG-Worksheet”)
 Modified Mercalli Scale
-subjective scale based on observations by individuals in the earthquake and
observations of damage that occurred.
-the Intensity ranges from I to XII (roman numeral 1 to 12).

A meta-analysis of available literature ((Dai et al.)) revealed inconsistency

across large-scale studies of intensities reported by individuals who
experienced the same earthquake (Table 3).
 Modified Mercalli Scale
The following is an abbreviated description of the 12 levels of Modified Mercalli
intensity.
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.
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.
 References
 “EASC111-LabG-Worksheet.” Faculty.icc.edu,
faculty.icc.edu/easc111lab/labs/labg/prelabg_wo
rksheet.htm. Accessed 25 Feb. 2021.
 Dai, Wenjie, et al. “The Incidence of Post-
Traumatic Stress Disorder among Survivors after
Earthquakes:a Systematic Review and Meta-
Analysis.” BMC Psychiatry, vol. 16, no. 1, 7 June
2016,
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC489599
4/, 10.1186/s12888-016-0891-9.