Seismic intensity scales categorize the intensity or severity of ground shaking (quaking) at a given location, such as resulting from an earthquake. They are distinguished from seismic magnitude scales, which measure the magnitude or overall strength of an earthquake, which may, or perhaps may not, cause perceptible shaking.
Intensity scales are based on the observed effects of the shaking, such as the degree to which people or animals were alarmed, and the extent and severity of damage to different kinds of structures or natural features. The maximal intensity observed, and the extent of the area where shaking was felt (see isoseismal map, below), can be used to estimate the location and magnitude of the source earthquake; this is especially useful for historical earthquakes where there is no instrumental record.
Ground shaking can be caused in various ways (volcanic tremors, avalanches, large explosions, etc.), but shaking intense enough to cause damage is usually due to rupturing of the Earth's crust known as earthquakes. The intensity of shaking depends on several factors:
Site response is especially important as certain conditions, such as unconsolidated sediments in a basin, can amplify ground motions as much as ten times.
Where an earthquake is not recorded on seismographs an isoseismal map showing the intensities felt at different areas can be used to estimate the location and magnitude of the quake.[1] Such maps are also useful for estimating the shaking intensity, and thereby the likely level of damage, to be expected from a future earthquake of similar magnitude. In Japan this kind of information is used when an earthquake occurs to anticipate the severity of damage to be expected in different areas.[2]
The intensity of local ground-shaking depends on several factors besides the magnitude of the earthquake,[3] one of the most important being soil conditions. For instance, thick layers of soft soil (such as fill) can amplify seismic waves, often at a considerable distance from the source, while sedimentary basins will often resonate, increasing the duration of shaking. This is why, in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, the Marina district of San Francisco was one of the most damaged areas, though it was nearly 100 kilometres (60 mi) from the epicenter.[4] Geological structures were also significant, such as where seismic waves passing under the south end of San Francisco Bay reflected off the base of the Earth's crust towards San Francisco and Oakland. A similar effect channeled seismic waves between the other major faults in the area.[5]
The first simple classification of earthquake intensity was devised by Domenico Pignataro in the 1780s.[6] The first recognisable intensity scale in the modern sense of the word was drawn up by P.N.G. Egen in 1828. However, the first modern mapping of earthquake intensity was made by Robert Mallet, an Irish engineer who was sent by Imperial College, London, to research the December 1857 Basilicata earthquake, also known as The Great Neapolitan Earthquake of 1857.[7] The first widely adopted intensity scale, the Rossi–Forel scale, was introduced in the late 19th century as a 10 grade scale.[8] In 1902, Italian seismologist Giuseppe Mercalli, created the Mercalli Scale, a new 12-grade scale. A very significant improvement was achieved, mainly by Charles Francis Richter during the 1950s, when (1) a correlation was found between seismic intensity and the Peak ground acceleration - PGA (see the equation that Richter found for California).[9] (2) a definition of the strength of the buildings, and a subdivision into groups (called type of buildings) was made. Then, the evaluation of the seismic intensity was based upon the damage grade to a given type of structure. That gave the Mercalli Scale, as well as the followed European MSK-64 scale, the quantitative element, which represents the vulnerability of the building's type.[10] Since then, that scale was called the Modified Mercalli intensity scale - MMS and the evaluations of the Seismic Intensities became more reliable.[11]
In addition, more intensity scales have been developed and are used in different parts of the world:
| Country/Region | Seismic intensity scale used |
|---|---|
 China |
Liedu scale (GB/T 17742–1999) |
 Europe |
European Macroseismic Scale (EMS-98)[12] |
 Hong Kong |
Modified Mercalli scale (MM)[13] |
 India |
Medvedev–Sponheuer–Karnik scale |
 Indonesia |
Modified Mercalli scale (MM)[14] |
 Israel |
Medvedev–Sponheuer–Karnik scale (MSK-64) |
 Japan |
JMA Seismic Intensity Scale |
 Kazakhstan |
Medvedev–Sponheuer–Karnik scale (MSK-64) |
 Philippines |
PHIVOLCS Earthquake Intensity Scale (PEIS) |
 Russia |
Medvedev–Sponheuer–Karnik scale (MSK-64) |
 Taiwan |
Central Weather Administration seismic intensity scale[15] |
 United States |
Modified Mercalli scale (MM)[16] |
where 
is the PGA for that given site with value of (cm/sec2) and 
is the Intensity value for that site. see: Richter 1958, p. 140.
