How do earthquake magnitude and intensity differ?
Quick Answer
Magnitude measures the energy released by the earthquake itself, while intensity describes the shaking and damage at a specific location. One quake has one magnitude but many different intensity levels.
The Full Story
Magnitude is a single scientific value for an earthquake’s size, based on seismic recordings and energy release. Today, scientists usually use the moment magnitude scale, which replaced older scales such as Richter for most large quakes. Intensity, on the other hand, depends on where you are and how strongly the quake is felt, often described with the Modified Mercalli scale. A single earthquake may be barely noticeable far away but highly destructive near the epicenter. This is why reports of damage can vary widely even for the same event.
Key Facts
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