What is the difference between Magnitude and Intensity?

Intensity: The severity of earthquake shaking is assessed using a descriptive scale – the Modified

Mercalli Intensity Scale.

Magnitude: Earthquake size is a quantitative measure of the size of the earthquake at its source.

The Richter Magnitude Scalemeasures the amount of seismic energy released by an earthquake.

When an earthquake occurs, its magnitude can be given a single numerical value on the Richter
Magnitude Scale. However the intensity is variable over the area affected by the earthquake, with high
intensities near the epicentre and lower values further away. These are allocated a value depending on
the effects of the shaking according to the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale.

In an example, Magnitude can be likened to the power of radio or television waves sent out from a
broadcasting station. Intensity is how well you receive the signal, which can depend on your distance from
the energy source, the local conditions, and the pathway the signal has to take to reach you.

House damage in Christchurch