Earthquake Intensity

Of the two ways to measure earthquake size, magnitude based on instrumental readings and intensity based on qualitative effects of earthquakes, only intensity can be applied to pre-instrumental earthquakes. The 1931 Modified Mercalli scale used in the United States assigns a Roman numeral in the range I - XII to each earthquake effect. The methodology is simple.

At each location assign a numeral to describe the earthquake effect
Contour the zones of similar effect
The earthquake is assumed to have occurred near the region of maximum intensity
The earthquake may be characterized by the largest Roman numeral assigned to it

The problems with intensity are multifold. First, it is a qualitative assessment that measures different phenomena. The lower values address human response to ground motions, the intermediate values characterize the response of simple structures, and the upper values describe ground failure processes.

Another problem is that incomplete spatial coverage may lead to a mislocation of the earthquake or an underassessment of its size. This is easily visualized for offshore earthquakes or, in the case of the United States, inadequate population distribution at the time of the earthquake.

Modified Mercalli Scale

Average peak velocity (centimeters per second) Intensity value and description Average peak acceleration (g is gravity=9.80 meters per second squared)

I. Not felt except by a very few under especially favorable circumstances.
(I Rossi-Forel scale)
II. Felt only by a few persons at rest, especially on upper floors of buildings. Delicately suspended objects may swing.
(I to II Rossi-Forel scale)
III. Felt quite noticeably indoors, especially on upper floors of buildings, but many people do not recognize it as an earthquake. Standing automobiles may rock slightly. Vibration like passing of truck. Duration estimated.
(III Rossi-Forel scale)

1-2 IV. During the day felt indoors by many, outdoors by few. At night some awakened. Dishes, windows, doors disturbed; walls make creaking sound. Sensation like heavy truck striking building. Standing automobiles rocked noticeably.
(IV to V Rossi-Forel scale) 0.015g-0.02g

2-5 V. Felt by nearly everyone, many awakened. Some dishes, windows, and so on broken; cracked plaster in a few places; unstable objects overturned. Disturbances of trees, poles, and other tall objects sometimes noticed. Pendulum clocks may stop.
(V to VI Rossi-Forel scale) 0.03g-0.04g

5-8 VI. Felt by all, many frightened and run outdoors. Some heavy furniture moved; a few instances of fallen plaster and damaged chimneys. Damage slight.
(VI to VII Rossi-Forel scale) 0.06g-0.07g

8-12 VII. Everybody runs outdoors. Damage negligible in buildings of good design and construction; slight to moderate in well-built ordinary structures; considerable in poorly built or badly designed structures; some chimneys broken. Noticed by persons driving cars.
(VIII Rossi-Forel scale) 0.10g-0.15g

20-30 VIII. Damage slight in specially designed structures; considerable in ordinary substantial buildings with partial collapse; great in poorly built structures. Panel walls thrown out of frame structures. Fall of chimneys, factory stack, columns, monuments, walls. Heavy furniture overturned. Sand and mud ejected in small amounts. Changes in well water. Persons driving cars disturbed.
(VIII + to IX Rossi-Forel scale) 0.25g-0.30g

45-55 IX. Damage considerable in specially designed structures; well-designed frame structures thrown out of plumb; great in substantial buildings, with partial collapse. Buildings shifted off foundations. Ground cracked conspicuously. Underground pipes broken.
(IX + Rossi-Forel scale) 0.50g-0.55g

More than 60 X. Some well-built wooden structures destroyed; most masonry and frame structures destroyed with foundations; ground badly cracked. Rails bent. Landslides considerable from river banks and steep slopes. Shifted sand and mud. Water splashed, slopped over banks.
(X Rossi-Forel scale) More than 0.60g

XI. Few, if any, (masonry) structures remain standing. Bridges destroyed. Broad fissures in ground. Underground pipelines completely out of service. Earth slumps and land slips in soft ground. Rails bent greatly.
XII. Damage total. Waves seen on ground surface. Lines of sight and level distorted. Objects thrown into the air.

Modified Mercalli Scale
Average peak velocity (centimeters per second)	Intensity value and description	Average peak acceleration (g is gravity=9.80 meters per second squared)
	I. Not felt except by a very few under especially favorable circumstances. (I Rossi-Forel scale) II. Felt only by a few persons at rest, especially on upper floors of buildings. Delicately suspended objects may swing. (I to II Rossi-Forel scale) III. Felt quite noticeably indoors, especially on upper floors of buildings, but many people do not recognize it as an earthquake. Standing automobiles may rock slightly. Vibration like passing of truck. Duration estimated. (III Rossi-Forel scale)
1-2	IV. During the day felt indoors by many, outdoors by few. At night some awakened. Dishes, windows, doors disturbed; walls make creaking sound. Sensation like heavy truck striking building. Standing automobiles rocked noticeably. (IV to V Rossi-Forel scale)	0.015g-0.02g
2-5	V. Felt by nearly everyone, many awakened. Some dishes, windows, and so on broken; cracked plaster in a few places; unstable objects overturned. Disturbances of trees, poles, and other tall objects sometimes noticed. Pendulum clocks may stop. (V to VI Rossi-Forel scale)	0.03g-0.04g
5-8	VI. Felt by all, many frightened and run outdoors. Some heavy furniture moved; a few instances of fallen plaster and damaged chimneys. Damage slight. (VI to VII Rossi-Forel scale)	0.06g-0.07g
8-12	VII. Everybody runs outdoors. Damage negligible in buildings of good design and construction; slight to moderate in well-built ordinary structures; considerable in poorly built or badly designed structures; some chimneys broken. Noticed by persons driving cars. (VIII Rossi-Forel scale)	0.10g-0.15g
20-30	VIII. Damage slight in specially designed structures; considerable in ordinary substantial buildings with partial collapse; great in poorly built structures. Panel walls thrown out of frame structures. Fall of chimneys, factory stack, columns, monuments, walls. Heavy furniture overturned. Sand and mud ejected in small amounts. Changes in well water. Persons driving cars disturbed. (VIII + to IX Rossi-Forel scale)	0.25g-0.30g
45-55	IX. Damage considerable in specially designed structures; well-designed frame structures thrown out of plumb; great in substantial buildings, with partial collapse. Buildings shifted off foundations. Ground cracked conspicuously. Underground pipes broken. (IX + Rossi-Forel scale)	0.50g-0.55g
More than 60	X. Some well-built wooden structures destroyed; most masonry and frame structures destroyed with foundations; ground badly cracked. Rails bent. Landslides considerable from river banks and steep slopes. Shifted sand and mud. Water splashed, slopped over banks. (X Rossi-Forel scale)	More than 0.60g
	XI. Few, if any, (masonry) structures remain standing. Bridges destroyed. Broad fissures in ground. Underground pipelines completely out of service. Earth slumps and land slips in soft ground. Rails bent greatly. XII. Damage total. Waves seen on ground surface. Lines of sight and level distorted. Objects thrown into the air.

Bolt, Bruce A. Abridged Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale, Earthquakes - Newly Revised and Expanded, Appendix C, W.H. Freeman and Co. 1993, 331 pp.