intensity and magnitude

• ｡˚Intensity:

  • The strength of the earthquake to the observer
• intensity

  • Can be used to express the damage caused by an earthquake
• intensity

  • Qualitative (describable)
• • Intensity can be determined from the shaking and the damage caused by an earthquake.
• The severity of an earthquake can be determined using a Mercalli Intensity Scale.
• Intensity varies depending on how close or far the location is from the epicenter of the earthquake
• The closer it is to the epicenter the higher the intensity. The farther it is from the epicenter the lesser the intensity.
• Magnitude

  • The amount of energy released by an earthquake
• magnitude

  • Quantitative (measurable)
• magnitude

  • Does NOT vary with the distance from the epicenter of the earthquake 
• Magnitude values are calculated right after an earthquake
• magnitude Written in Hindu Arabic Numbers with decimals (ex.7.0,9.8)
• magnitude Can be recorded using an instrument called seismograph
• The strength of an earthquake can be determined using the Ritcher’s Magnitude Scale
• It describes the total amount of energy that is released by an earthquake
• Cannot properly describe large scale of earthquakes