Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Earthquakes, Intensity

  • 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. The word “macroseismic” refers to perceptible effects of earthquakes as opposed to instrumental observations. Intensity data are not only a surprisingly good measure of ground motion (Atkinson and Wald, 2007) but are also capable of constraining the magnitude of an event with the same order of uncertainty as individual instrumental magnitude readings (Johnston, 1996). Intensity data of an earthquake are usually presented in the form of a map showing for each intensity point either a corresponding color code or symbol. Contour lines in such maps separating intensities of different degrees are called isoseismals. The epicentral intensity \( {I_0} \)is usually the largest observed intensity near to the epicenter or the barycenter of the highest intensity values. It...

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

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 549.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 599.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Bibliography

  • Atkinson, G. M., and Wald, D. J., 2007. “Did You Feel It?” intensity data: a surprisingly good measure of earthquake ground motion. Seismological Research Letters, 78(3), 362–368.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bakun, W. H., and Scotti, O., 2006. Regional intensity attenuation models for France and the estimation of magnitude and location of historical earthquakes. Geophysical Journal International, 164(3), 596–610.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bakun, W. H., and Wentworth, C. M., 1997. Estimating earthquake location and magnitude from seismic intensity data. Bulletin. Seismological Society of America, 87(6), 1502–1521.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cancani, A., 1904. Sur l’emploi d’une double echelle sismique des intensites, 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., and Cauzzi, C., 2006. Macroseismic intensities for seismic scenarios, estimated from instrumentally based correlations. In Abstract Book 1st ECEES, http://www.ecees.org/ abstracts_book.pdf, p. 125.

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankel, A., 1994. Implications of felt area-magnitude relations for earthquake scaling and the average frequency of perceptible ground motion. Bulletin. Seismological Society of America, 84(2), 462–465.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasperini, P., Bernardini, F., Valensise, G., and Boschi, E., 1999. Defining seismogenic sources from historical earthquake felt reports. Bulletin. Seismological Society of America, 89(1), 94–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gomez Copera, A. A., 2006. Seismic hazard map for the Italian territory using macroseismic data. Earth Science Research Journal, 10(2), 67–90.

    Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Grünthal, G., (ed.) 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. (http://www.gfz-potsdam.de/EMS98).

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Gutenberg, B., and Richter, C. F., 1954. Seismicity of the Earth. Princeton: Princeton University Press. 310 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Housner, G. W., 1961. Vibration of Structures Induced by Seismic Waves, Shock and Vibration Handbook. New York: McGraw Hill, pp. 1–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howell, B. F., Jr., and Schultz, T. R., 1975. Attenuation of modified Mercalli intensity with distance from the epicenter. Bulletin. Seismological Society of America, 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, A. C., 1996. Seismic moment assessment of earthquakes in stable continental regions – II. Historical seismicity. Geophysical Journal International, 125(3), 639–678.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karim, K. R., and Yamazaki, F., 2002. Correlation of JMA instrumental seismic intensity with strong motion parameters. Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics, 31(5), 1191–1212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kövesligethy de, R., 1906. A makroszeizmikus rengések feldolgozása. Math. és Természettudományi Értesítõ, 24, 349–368.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuwata, Y., and Takada, S., 2002. Instantaneous instrumental seismic intensity and evacuation. Journal of Natural Disaster Science, 24(1), 35–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Medvedev, S., Sponheuer, W., and Kárník, V., 1964. Neue seismische Skala. Intensity scale of earthquakes, 7. Tagung der Europäischen Seismologischen Kommission vom 24.9. bis 30.9.1962. In: Jena, Veröff. Institut für Bodendynamik und Erdbebenforschung in Jena, vol 77. Deutsche Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin, pp. 69–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Musson, R. W. M., 1993. Macroseismic magnitude and depth for British earthquakes. BGS Global Seismology Report no. WL/93/13.

    Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Musson, R. M. W., and Cecić, I., 2002. Macroseismology. In Lee, W. H. K., Kanamori, H., Jennings, P. C., and Kisslinger, C. (eds.), International Handbook of Earthquake and Engineering Seismology. San Diego: Academic, pp. 807–822.

    Google Scholar 

  • Musson, R. W. M., Grünthal, G., and Stucchi, M., 2010. The comparison of macroseismic intensity scales. Journal of Seismology, 14(2), 413–428.

    Google Scholar 

  • Omori, F., 1900. Seismic experiments on the fracturing and overturning of columns. Publication of the Earthquake Investigation Committee in Foreign Languages, 4, 69–141.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richter, C. F., 1958. Elementary Seismology. A Series of Books in Geology. San Francisco: Freeman. 768 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sieberg, A., 1912. Über die makroseismische Bestimmung der Erdbebenstärke. Gerlands Beitrage zur Geophysik, 11, 227–239.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sieberg, A., 1923. Geologische, Physikalische und Angewandte Erdbebenkunde. Jena: G. Fischer.

    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 

  • Stromeyer, D., and Grünthal, G., 2009. Attenuation relationship of macroseismic intensities in Central Europe. Bulletin. Seismological Society of America, 99(2A), 554–565.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wald, D. F., Quiroriano, V., Heaton, T. H., and Kanamori, H., 1999a. Relationships between Peak Ground Acceleration, Peak Ground Velocity, and Modified Mercalli Intensity in California. Earthquake Spectra, 15(3), 557–564.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wald, D. F., Quitoriano, V., Dengler, L. A., and Dewey, J. W., 1999b. Utilization of the internet for rapid community intensity maps. Seismological Research Letters, 70(1), 680–697.

    Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood, H. O., and Neumann, F., 1931. Modified Mercalli intensity scale of 1931. Bulletin. Seismological Society of America, 21, 277–283.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, German Research Centre for Geosciences GFZ, Telegrafenberg, 14473, Potsdam, Germany

    Gottfried Grünthal

Authors
  1. Gottfried Grünthal
    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. National Geophysical Research Institute, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Hyderabad, India

    Harsh K. Gupta

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this entry

Cite this entry

Grünthal, G. (2011). Earthquakes, Intensity. In: Gupta, H.K. (eds) Encyclopedia of Solid Earth Geophysics. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-8702-7_23

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation