What are the differences between magnitude and intensity of earthquakes?
Understand the Problem
The question is discussing the magnitude and intensity of earthquakes, defining key concepts and differences between them, including measurement scales and effects of earthquakes.
Answer
Magnitude measures energy at the source; intensity measures shaking and damage locally.
Magnitude measures the energy released at the earthquake's source, and is a single value for each earthquake. Intensity measures the shaking and damage caused by the earthquake, which can vary by location.
Answer for screen readers
Magnitude measures the energy released at the earthquake's source, and is a single value for each earthquake. Intensity measures the shaking and damage caused by the earthquake, which can vary by location.
More Information
Magnitude is often measured by scales like the Richter scale, while intensity is often assessed by the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale, which is subjective and depends on human observation.
Tips
A common mistake is to assume intensity is a fixed value like magnitude; however, it varies by location due to local geological conditions.
Sources
- What is the difference between earthquake magnitude ... - USGS.gov - usgs.gov
- What is the difference between magnitude and intensity? - earthquakes.bgs.ac.uk
- Earthquake Magnitude, Energy Release, and Shaking Intensity - usgs.gov
