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Earthquake magnitude is measured using a number of differing scales including the Richter scale, the moment magnitude scale and the surface magnitude scale. Intensity is measured using he Modified Mercalli intensity scale.

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Q: How are earthquake magnitude and intensity measured?
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Explain the difference between magnitude and intensity of an earthquakes?

The magnitude of an earthquake is the amount of energy released at the source of the earthquake and is measured by a seismograph. Intensity is shaking strength of an earthquake at a particular location.


Why is a 8.0 magnitude earthquake considered a low intensity earthquake?

It isn't. A magnitude 8.0 is a very high intensity earthquake.


Why is magnitude a better measure of strength of earthquakes than intensity?

The difference is that intensity is the extent of damage released by an earthquake and is measured differently at different places depending on its distance from the epicenter while the magnitude is the amount of energy released by an earthquake and it has a fixed energy as it is released by an earthquake.


What is the measure of an earthquake Stength?

The extent or size of an earthquake at a particular time is determined from the logarithm of the amplitude of waves that are recorded by a seismograph. The magnitude and intensity of the earthquake is measured on a Richter scale.


What are the intensity and the magnitude of the earthquake in the Philippine?

180


How a magnitude earthquake could be classified as a low-intensity earthquake?

A magnitude of 8.0 earthquake could be classified as a low intensity by descriptions of damage to buildings and terrain. The intensity is often greatest near the earthquakes epicenter.


How is the intensity and magnitude of an earthquake measured?

Earthquakes are measure with a seismograph which indicates the intensity of earth crust´s movements this measurement is call Richter 1 being less intensity and 10 being major intensity.


The strength of an earthquake is described in the terms of?

The strength of an earthquake is more correctly termed it's magnitude and is measured using a magnitude scale. Currently seismologists use the moment magnitude scale (which was developed to replace the Richter scale in the 1970's). The magnitude sclae is a way of representing the energy emitted during an earthquake. The damage and perceived ground shaking in an earthquake is known as it's intensity and this is measured using the Modified Mercalli scale or (in Europe) the Macroseismic scale. For more information on the types of magnitude and intensity scales, please see the related questions.


What is used to find the intesity of earthquakes?

Earthquake intensity is measured on a scale called 'Mercalli Intensity Scale' or more recently 'Modified Mercalli Scale'. The scale quantifies the effects of an earthquake on the Earth's surface, humans, objects of nature, and man-made structures on a scale from I (not felt) to XII (total destruction). An earthquake is graded after collecting data from people who have experienced the earthquake and observing the destruction caused by the earthquake. People often confuse 'Intensity' of an earthquake with its 'magnitude.' An earthquake's magnitude is a measure of the energy released by an earthquake that propagates from it. It is measured by the Richter scale(formerly), or Moment Magnitude Scale. Information about the earthquake is put into an algorithm to assign the earthquake to a scale of 2 or less, to 10.0+ and anything in between. A magnitude of 2 or less is extremely weak, and may not have been felt at all. An earthquake with the magnitude of 10 is extremely massive and would cause mass destruction - there have not been any 10.0 earthquakes recorded yet. Magnitude and Intensity are correlated. Intensity depends on the magnitude, distance between focus and surface, and population density of the region etc. So, an earthquake with more magnitude will have more intensity, given all the conditions remain same. See the Related Links section below for the algorithm.


How a magnitude-8.0 earthquake could be classified as a low-intensity earthquake?

A magnitude of 8.0 earthquake could be classified as a low intensity by descriptions of damage to buildings and terrain. The intensity is often greatest near the earthquakes epicenter.


What is an small earthquake intensity?

Earthquake intensity is measured using the Modified Mercalli Scale. That is basically a 'subjective' scale (as opposed to the Richter scale, which measures magnitude), because intensity is measured by the impact is is reported to have on people and their property, as reported by them. So a big earthquake like 8 on the Richter scale can have a low intensity if it happens in an area where few people live. A small earthquake can be high-intensity if it happens in a crowded area with many ramshackle houses.


Is the magnitude of an earthquake same as its intensity?

No.The magnitude is a measure of the total energy released by an earthquake.The intensity is a measure of the violence of ground shaking at a particular point. This is based on the statements of witnesses, damage to buildings and the ground acceleration as measured by a seismometer. As such it varies from place to place for a given earthquake.