Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Earthquakes, Intensity

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Solid Earth Geophysics

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series ((EESS))

Synonyms

Macroseismic intensity

Definition

The intensity, or macroseismic intensity, represents a classification of the severity of ground-motion shaking during an earthquake on the basis of observed effects at a given place (Grünthal et al. 1998). The word “macroseismic” refers to perceptible effects of earthquakes as opposed to instrumental observations.

Macroseismic Scales and Intensity Assignment

Earthquake intensities are defined in macroseismic scales. Since the early twentieth century, they usually contain 12 intensity degrees with the prominent exception of the seven degree Japanese Meteorological Agency (JMA) scale (later upgraded to ten degrees). Earthquakes generate different intensities at different places, generally decreasing with distance from the epicenter. The epicentral intensity can be used in combination with the hypocentral depth as a classification of earthquake strength – with restrictions for large earthquakes (M ≥ 7) with extensive fault planes.

Although not a...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

Bibliography

  • Atkinson GM, Wald DJ (2007) “Did you feel it?” intensity data: a surprisingly good measure of earthquake ground motion. Seismol Res Lett 78(3):362–368

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bakun WH, Wentworth CM (1997) Estimating earthquake location and magnitude from seismic intensity data. Bull Seismol Soc Am 87(6):1502–1521

    Google Scholar 

  • Cancani A (1904) Sur l’emploi d’une double échelle sismique des intensités, empirique et absolute. Beiträge zur Geophysik, Ergänzungsband (supplementary volume) 2, Verhandlungen der zweiten internationalen seismologischen Konferenz, Annex A10, 2:281–283

    Google Scholar 

  • Faccioli E, Cauzzi C (2006) Macroseismic intensities for seismic scenarios, estimated from instrumentally based correlations. In: Abstract Book 1st ECEES, p 125. http://www.ecees.org/abstracts_book.pdf

  • Faenza L, Michelini A (2010) Regression analysis of MCS intensity and ground motion parameters in Italy and its application in ShakeMap. Geophys J Int 180(3):1138–1152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frankel A (1994) Implications of felt area-magnitude relations for earthquake scaling and the average frequency of perceptible ground motion. Bull Seismol Soc Am 84(2):462–465

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasperini P, Bernardini F, Valensise G, Boschi E (1999) Defining seismogenic sources from historical earthquake felt reports. Bull Seismol Soc Am 89(1):94–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibson G, Wesson V, Jones T (1995) Strong motion from shallow intraplate earthquakes, Pacific Conference on Earthquake Engineering, 20–22 Nov 1995. Proceedings, pp 185–193

    Google Scholar 

  • Gomez Copera AA (2006) Seismic hazard map for the Italian territory using macroseismic data. Earth Sci Res J 10(2):67–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Grünthal G (1984) Seismische Gefährdung. In: Hurtig E, Stiller H (eds) Erdbeben und Erdbebengefährdung. Akademie Verlag, Berlin, pp 169–238

    Google Scholar 

  • Grünthal G (ed), Musson RMW, Schwarz J, Stucchi M (assoc eds) (1993) European Macroseismic Scale 1992 (up-dated MSK scale). Cahiers du Centre Européen de Géodynamique et de Séismologie 7, Centre Européen de Géodynamique et de Séismologie, Luxembourg, 77 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Grünthal G (ed), Musson RMW, Schwarz J, Stucchi M (assoc eds) (1998) European Macroseismic Scale 1998 (EMS-98). Cahiers du Centre Européen de Géodynamique et de Séismologie 15, Centre Européen de Géodynamique et de Séismologie, Luxembourg, 99 pp. https://doi.org/10.2312/EMS-98. http://www.gfz-potsdam.de/EMS98

  • Grünthal G, Wahlström R, Stromeyer D (2009) Harmonization check of Mw within the central, northern, and northwestern European earthquake catalogue (CENEC). J Seismol 13(4):613–632

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gutenberg B, Richter CF (1942) Earthquake magnitude, intensity, energy and acceleration. Bull Seismol Soc Am 32:163–191

    Google Scholar 

  • Gutenberg B, Richter CF (1956) Earthquake magnitude, intensity, energy and acceleration (Second Paper). Bull Seismol Soc Am 46:105–145

    Google Scholar 

  • Housner GW (1961) Vibration of structures induced by seismic waves, shock and vibration handbook. McGraw Hill, New York, pp 1–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Howell BF Jr, Schultz TR (1975) Attenuation of modified Mercalli intensity with distance from the epicenter. Bull Seismol Soc Am 65(3):651–655

    Google Scholar 

  • Jánosi v I (1907) Bearbeitung der makroseismischen Erdbeben auf Grund der “Cancanischen Gleichung,” Technical report, K. u. K. Reichsanstalt für Meteorologie und Erdmagnetismus, Budapest

    Google Scholar 

  • Japanese Meteorological Agency (1996) Explanation table of JMA seismic intensity scale. http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/kishou/know/shindo/explane.html

  • Johnston AC (1996) Seismic moment assessment of earthquakes in stable continental regions – II. Historical seismicity. Geophys J Int 125(3):639–678

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karim KR, Yamazaki F (2002) Correlation of JMA instrumental seismic intensity with strong motion parameters. Earthq Eng Struct Dyn 31(5):1191–1212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kövesligethy R (1906) A makroszeizmikus rengések feldolgozása. Math és Természettudományi Értesítõ 24:349–368

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuwata Y, Takada S (2002) Instantaneous instrumental seismic intensity and evacuation. J Nat Dis Sci 24(1):35–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Medvedev SV, Sponheuer W, Kárník V (1965a) Seismic intensity scale MSK-64. UNESCO digital library, NS/SEISM/28, WS/0565.43 AVS, Paris. https://unesco.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000154508

  • Medvedev SV, Sponheuer W, Kárník V (1965b) Seismische Intensitätsskala MSK 1964. In: Sponheuer W (ed) Bericht über die Weiterentwicklung der seismischen Skala, vol 8. Veröff. Institut für Geodynamik Jena, Berlin, pp 12–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Musson RWM (1993) Macroseismic magnitude and depth for British earthquakes. BGS Global Seismology Report no. WL/ 93/13

    Google Scholar 

  • Musson RMW (2000) Intensity-based seismic risk assessment. Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 20:353–360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Musson RMW (2006) Automatic assessment of EMS-98 intensities. British Geological Survey, Seismology and Geomagnetic Programme, Internal Report IR/06/048, 16 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Musson RMW, Cecić I (2002) Macroseismology. In: Lee WHK, Kanamori H, Jennings PC, Kisslinger C (eds) International handbook of earthquake and engineering seismology. Academic, San Diego, pp 807–822

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Musson RWM, Grünthal G, Stucchi M (2010) The comparison of macroseismic intensity scales. J Seismol 14(2):413–428

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Omori F (1900) Seismic experiments on the fracturing and overturning of columns. Publ Earthq Invest Comm Foreign Lang 4:69–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Richter CF (1958) Elementary seismology. A series of books in geology. Freeman, San Francisco. 768 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Sieberg A (1912) Über die makroseismische Bestimmung der Erdbebenstärke. Gerlands Beiträge zur Geophysik 11:227–239

    Google Scholar 

  • Sieberg A (1923) Geologische, physikalische und angewandte Erdbebenkunde. G. Fischer, Jena

    Google Scholar 

  • Sieberg A (1932) Geologie der Erdbeben. Handbuch der Geophysik 2(4):550–555

    Google Scholar 

  • Sponheuer W (1960) Methoden zur Herdtiefenbestimmung in der Makroseismik. Freiberger Forschungshefte C 88, Geophysik. Akademieverlag Berlin, 117 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Stover CW, Coffman JL (1993) Seismicity of the United States, 1568–1989 (revised), U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Prof. Pap. 1527, 418 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Stromeyer D, Grünthal G (2009) Attenuation relationship of macroseismic intensities in Central Europe. Bull Seismol Soc Am 99(2A):554–565

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tyagunov S, Grünthal G, Wahlström R, Stempniewski L, Zschau J (2006) Seismic risk mapping for Germany. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 6(4):573–586

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vogt J, Musson RMW, Stucchi M (1994) Seismological and hydrological criteria for the new European macroseismic scale (MSK-92). Nat Hazards 10:1–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wald DF, Quiroriano V, Heaton TH, Kanamori H (1999a) Relationships between peak ground acceleration, peak ground velocity, and modified Mercalli intensity in California. Earthquake Spectra 15(3):557–564

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wald DF, Quitoriano V, Dengler LA, Dewey JW (1999b) Utilization of the internet for rapid community intensity maps. Seismol Res Lett 70(1):680–697

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wald DF, Quitoriano V, Heaton TH, Kanamori H, Scrivner CW, Worden CB (1999c) TriNet “shake maps”: rapid generation of peak ground motion and intensity maps for earthquake in southern California. Earthquake Spectra 15(3):537–556

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wood HO, Neumann F (1931) Modified Mercalli intensity scale of 1931. Bull Seismol Soc Am 21:277–283

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, German Research Centre for Geosciences GFZ, Potsdam, Germany

    Gottfried Grünthal

  2. University of Edinburgh and British Geological Survey, Edinburgh, UK

    Roger M. W. Musson

Authors
  1. Gottfried Grünthal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Roger M. W. Musson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gottfried Grünthal .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Seismology, National Geophysical Research Insti, Hyderabad, India

    Harsh K. Gupta

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Grünthal, G., Musson, R.M.W. (2020). Earthquakes, Intensity. In: Gupta, H. (eds) Encyclopedia of Solid Earth Geophysics. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-10475-7_23-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-10475-7_23-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-10475-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-10475-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Earth and Environm. ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Earth and Environmental Sciences

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation