Intensity scales

Dave Giles

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingEntry for encyclopedia/dictionary

    Abstract

    The size and damaging effects or severity of an earthquake are described by measurements of both magnitude and intensity. In seismology (the study of earthquakes), scales of seismic intensity are used to measure or categorize the effects of the earthquake at different sites around its epicenter. Various seismic scales can be used to measure and compare the severity of the seismic event. The amount of elastic energy released by an earthquake is measured on a magnitude scale (see Magnitude Measures) whereas the effects of intensity of ground motion or “shaking” occurring at a given surface point are measured on an intensity scale.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationEncyclopedia of natural hazards
    EditorsPeter T. Bobrowsky
    Place of PublicationDordrecht
    PublisherSpringer
    Pages544-552
    ISBN (Electronic)9781402043994
    ISBN (Print)9789048186990
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2013

    Publication series

    NameEncyclopedia of earth sciences series
    PublisherSpringer
    ISSN (Print)1388-4360

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