It, cannot be 15 because the Mercalli scale maxes up at XII (12) Which is total destruction.
The Mercalli Intensity Scale is a measure of earthquake intensity experienced at a given location. The Kobe earthquake in 1995 had intensities reaching up to VIII (8) on the Mercalli Intensity Scale in the heavily affected areas around Kobe.
Mercalli is a scale for the measurement of earthquake intensities.
The 2011 earthquake in Tohoku, Japan measured at a Mercalli intensity of VII (Very strong). The Earthquake had a magnitude of 9.0 and led to widespread damage and casualties.
The seismic scale that measures the intensity of earthquake damage is called the Mercalli intensity scale. This scale measures the effect an earthquake has on people and surroundings.
PAGASA uses the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale to measure the intensity of an earthquake in the Philippines. This scale assesses the effects of an earthquake on people, structures, and the environment rather than measuring the actual energy released by the earthquake.
Mercalli scale
The Mercalli intensity scale measures the intensity of shaking and damage caused by an earthquake. The intensity of the Sichuan earthquake in 2008 was estimated to be around VII to IX on the Mercalli scale, indicating severe to violent shaking that led to widespread damage and casualties in the region.
The maximum measured intensity of the 2010 Canterbury earthquake in New Zealand was IX (9) on the Modified Mercalli scale.
The Richter scale determines earthquake magnitude by measuring how much the ground moves, and the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale determines earthquake intensity based on damage to buildings and effects on humans.
The Modified Mercalli Intensity scale is used in the US to determine the severity of earthquake effects. Intensity ratings are in Roman numerals, I - meaning no people felt movement, all the way up to XII - where almost everything is destroyed.The amount of structural and geological damage done by an earthquake in a specific location determines an earthquake's intensity on the Mercalli scale. :)
The Modified Mercalli Intensity scale is used in the US to determine the severity of earthquake effects. Intensity ratings are in Roman numerals, I - meaning no people felt movement, all the way up to XII - where almost everything is destroyed.The amount of structural and geological damage done by an earthquake in a specific location determines an earthquake's intensity on the Mercalli scale. :)
The factors that determine an earthquake's intensity on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale include the earthquake's magnitude, distance from the epicenter, local geology and ground conditions, and building structures. Intensity also depends on the impact of ground shaking, surface faulting, landslides, and other secondary effects.