Mercalli scale

Home > ... > Earth and the Environment > Geology and Oceanography > Geology and Oceanography > ...

Mercalli scale

A Dictionary of Ecology | 2004 | | © A Dictionary of Ecology 2004, originally published by Oxford University Press 2004. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Mercalli scale An earthquake-intensity scale based on direct observation. Devised by G.Mercalli, it ranges from scales I (not felt) and II (felt by most people at rest) to VII (difficult for a person to remain standing), X (most structures destroyed), and XII (total devastation). It is not a reliable scale for energy release because the extent of destruction depends on the local geology, type of buildings, etc. See also Richter scale.

Hide all research tools
Print this article Print all entries for this topic Cite this article Link to this article
Link to this article

CloseClose

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O14-Mercalliscale" title="Facts and information about Mercalli scale">Mercalli scale</a>

Add this article to Del.icio.usBookmark this article on DiigoShare this article on FacebookSubmit this article to RedditGive this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

MICHAEL ALLABY. "Mercalli scale." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "Mercalli scale." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (November 11, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-Mercalliscale.html

MICHAEL ALLABY. "Mercalli scale." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved November 11, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-Mercalliscale.html

Learn more about citation styles

Mercalli scale

A Dictionary of Earth Sciences | 1999 | | © A Dictionary of Earth Sciences 1999, originally published by Oxford University Press 1999. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Mercalli scale An earthquake-intensity scale based on direct observation. It ranges from scales I (not felt) and II (felt by most people at rest), to VII (difficult for a person to remain standing), X (most structures destroyed), and XII (total devastation). It is not a reliable scale for energy release because the extent of destruction depends on the local geology, type of buildings, etc. See also RICHTER MAGNITUDE SCALE.

Hide all research tools
Print this article Print all entries for this topic Cite this article Link to this article
Link to this article

CloseClose

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O13-Mercalliscale" title="Facts and information about Mercalli scale">Mercalli scale</a>

Add this article to Del.icio.usBookmark this article on DiigoShare this article on FacebookSubmit this article to RedditGive this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Mercalli scale." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Mercalli scale." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (November 11, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-Mercalliscale.html

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Mercalli scale." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved November 11, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-Mercalliscale.html

Learn more about citation styles

Mercalli, Giuseppe

A Dictionary of Earth Sciences | 1999 | | © A Dictionary of Earth Sciences 1999, originally published by Oxford University Press 1999. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Mercalli, Giuseppe (1815–1914) An Italian professor of natural sciences who studied the major earthquake districts of Italy, Mercalli is best known for his scale of earthquake intensity, first formulated in 1897, and refined several times. See also MERCALLI SCALE.

Hide all research tools
Print this article Print all entries for this topic Cite this article Link to this article
Link to this article

CloseClose

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O13-MercalliGiuseppe" title="Facts and information about Mercalli scale">Mercalli scale</a>

Add this article to Del.icio.usBookmark this article on DiigoShare this article on FacebookSubmit this article to RedditGive this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Mercalli, Giuseppe." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Mercalli, Giuseppe." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (November 11, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-MercalliGiuseppe.html

AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Mercalli, Giuseppe." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved November 11, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-MercalliGiuseppe.html

Learn more about citation styles

Facts and information from other sites

Related topics

  Edit this list

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

Argentina shaken by 5-degree Richter-scale quake
News Wire article from: Xinhua News Agency; 5/2/2008; 320 words ; ...Argentina shaken by 5-degree Richter-scale quake BUENOS AIRES, May 2 (Xinhua...Friday by a 5-degree Richter-scale earthquake at 02:51 local time...degree intensity according to the Mercalli scale, from slight to moderate, within...
TREMOR MEASURING 4.8 ON RICHTER SCALE JOLTS BANDA ACEH.
News Wire article from: ANT - LKBN ANTARA (Indonesia); 2/15/2006; 501 words ; ...measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale rocked Banda Aceh and its environs...the second and third Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale, and did not cause any damage...4.2 and 5.2 on the Richter scale jolted Simeulue Islet, Aceh Province...
Scale of DESTRUCTION
Newspaper article from: New Straits Times; 8/7/2005; 513 words ; New Straits Times 08-07-2005 Scale of DESTRUCTION Edition: New Sunday Times This is the 12-level Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale for gauging the intensity of quakes I. People do not feel any earth movement II. A few people might...
Earthquake intensity, damage, and conservation of unreinforced masonry buildings.
Magazine article from: Architectural Science Review; 6/1/2007; ; 700+ words ; ...any of the Mercalli intensity scales of earthquake (the Mercalli scale was used primarily in this paper...strengthened against the different scales of earthquakes. This could...by earthquakes of different Mercalli scales hav
Quake No. 4 Shakes Howard County; Band of Fragile Rock Running to Pa. May Be Culprit, Scientists Say
Newspaper article from: The Washington Post; 3/17/1993; ; 700+ words ; ...registered 4.0 on the Richter scale. The epicenters of many of...earthquakes with an index called the Mercalli scale. The earthquake in Lancaster...Richter scale measured 6 on the Mercalli scale, meaning that it could...to be about a 3 or 4 on the Mercalli scale, ...
QUAKE HITS SOVIET REPUBLIC LANDSLIDES BURY PARTS OF 3 VILLAGES.(Main)
Newspaper article from: Albany Times Union (Albany, NY); 1/23/1989; 700+ words ; ...measured 7 points on the 12-point Mercalli scale. The U.S. Geological Survey...Armenian quake measured 9 on the Mercalli scale and between 6.8 and 6...released by an earthquake. The Mercalli scale measures the effects of the...
Fed: Darwin jolted by earthquake of 7.1 but no damage reports
Newspaper article from: AAP General News (Australia); 3/3/2005; 671 words ; ...measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale but authorities are confident...put at 4.0 on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale, which measures...scale of one to 12. A quake of Mercalli intensity 1.0 would be noticed...destruction. A 4.0 on the Mercalli scale means a quake is ...
Agency to Quiz County Residents on Quakes
Newspaper article from: The Washington Post; 3/18/1993; ; 700+ words ; ...respectively, on the Richter scale. "I figure we get so much...an index called the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale. The Mercalli scale is based on the observed...Howard County's place on the Mercalli scale. The one-page questionnaire...
Chile jolted by strong earthquake
News Wire article from: Xinhua News Agency; 1/27/2004; 332 words ; ...measuring between 2 and 5 on the Mercalli scale hit Tuesday the regions of Tarapaca...measuring between 4 and 5 on the Mercalli scale, was reported in Arica...kilometers north of Santiago. The Mercalli scale measures the destructive...
6.7 quake's effects felt strongest in North Kohala
Newspaper article from: Honolulu Star - Bulletin; 10/29/2006; ; 700+ words ; ...matched those reports with the Mercalli scale, a way of assessing intensity, less known than magnitude. The Mercalli scale is divided into Roman numerals...Agency version of the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale, in an intensity...

Pictures from Google Image Search

Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture

For students and teachers!

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including:

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including:

Popular on Newser: