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An earthquake is caused by a sudden slip on a fault. Tectonic plates are always slowly moving, but they can get stuck at their edges due to friction.When the stress on the edge of a tectonic plate overcomes the friction, there is an earthquake that releases energy in waves that travel through the Earth's crust and cause the shaking that is felt.
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.
The intensity and death toll depend on several factors (earthquake depth, epicenter location, and population density, to name a few) and can vary widely. Millions of minor earthquakes occur every year worldwide, equating to hundreds every hour every day. [15] On the other hand, earthquakes of magnitude ≥8.0 occur about once a year, on average ...
The Modified Mercalli Intensity scale shows how intense an earthquake is at a specific site, based on what people on the ground would feel. The scale is expressed in Roman numerals. The scale is ...
Much of an earthquake's total energy as measured by M w is dissipated as friction (resulting in heating of the crust). [52] An earthquake's potential to cause strong ground shaking depends on the comparatively small fraction of energy radiated as seismic waves, and is better measured on the energy magnitude scale, M e. [53]
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The prediction is based on research done by dozens of scientists and engineers using seismic studies, historical geological data and new information to identify nearly 500 additional fault lines ...
The Modified Mercalli intensity scale (MM, MMI, or MCS) measures the effects of an earthquake at a given location. This is in contrast with the seismic magnitude usually reported for an earthquake. Magnitude scales measure the inherent force or strength of an earthquake – an event occurring at greater or lesser depth.