The Enhanced Fujita scale, which goes from EF0 to EF5 rates the strength of tornadoes based on damage.
No. The Richter scale (since replaced by the Moment Magnitude scale) was used to measure earthquake intensity. The Fujita scale (now the Enhanced Fujita scale in the U.S.) is used to rate tornadoes.
No, EF is for Enhanced Fujita scale and F is for Fujita scale. The new scale, implemented in 2007 is more accurate, but ratings are essentially equivalent. Most tornadoes would receive the same rating on either scale.
You would measure weight.
A tornado with the fastest known wind speeds would be classified as an EF5 tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. EF5 tornadoes have estimated wind speeds of over 200 mph (322 km/h) and cause extreme damage.
A tornado with 120 mph winds would typically fall into the EF2 category on the Enhanced Fujita scale. EF2 tornadoes have wind speeds ranging from 111 to 135 mph and can cause considerable damage to buildings and vegetation.
No. The Richter scale (since replaced by the Moment Magnitude scale) was used to measure earthquake intensity. The Fujita scale (now the Enhanced Fujita scale in the U.S.) is used to rate tornadoes.
No. A hurricane will produce more damage overall because it affects a larger area, though on a localized scale the damage from a tornado is often more severe.
No, EF is for Enhanced Fujita scale and F is for Fujita scale. The new scale, implemented in 2007 is more accurate, but ratings are essentially equivalent. Most tornadoes would receive the same rating on either scale.
That would be the Fujita scale or, more recently, the Enhanced Fujita scale. However, both scales base rating primarily on damage, with the wind speeds only being estimated based on that damage.
Engineers examine the damage, taking into account the type of structure and the quality of construction, and estimate what wind speeds would be needed to cause that damage. That wind speed is then used to assign a rating on the Enhanced Fujita scale. The highest-rated damage on the tornado's path will be the tornado's rating.
On the original Fujita scale a 200 mph wind would correspond to a strong F3 tornado. However, the wind estimates of the original scale have been found to be too high (actual ratings are based on damage severity). Now, on the more accurate Enhanced Fujita Scale 200 mph would be a borderline EF4-EF5 tornado.
Moderate damage and estimated winds of 86-110 mph would qualify a tornado as an EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale.
The Mercalli scale would most likely be used to measure earthquake damage.
Fujita scale ratings are based on the severity of damaged caused by a tornado. A tornado would be rated F0 if it only causes relatively minor damage (though some very weak structures may be destroyed) or if it spends all its time in an open field, causing no damage whatsoever.
An F10 tornado on the Fujita scale does not exist. The Fujita scale only goes up to F5, which is the most powerful category with wind speeds of over 200 mph. Tornadoes of that intensity are extremely rare and can cause catastrophic damage.
Both scales assess the intensity of a tornado based on the severity of the damage it causes. The ratings on the Fuijta and Enhanced Fujita scale are equivalent. For example a tornado rated F2 on the Fujita scale would probably be rated EF2 on the Enhanced Fujita scale.
There is no scale specifically for measuring hurricane damage. The Saffir-Simpson scale measure hurricanes based on wind speed, which can be used to estimate what damage may occur. The damage scale that does exist, the Fujita scale (in the U.S. replaced with the Enhanced Fujita scale) is used exclusively to rate tornadoes, not hurricanes.