Seismic Scales

Earthquakes are measured based on their magnitudes and intensities. The magnitude of an earthquake is the measurement of the amount of energy that is released from the hypocenter of the earthquake. The magnitude is expressed using the Richter scale. The intensity of an earthquake is a relative measure of the amount of destruction, caused by the earthquake and can be measured using several scales, the most important of which is the Mercalli scale. If the earthquake is weak, it is usually not felt by humans but is registered by seismic instruments. If it is strong, it can be felt by humans and may also cause damages and destructions, depending on its magnitude, the proximity of the affected area to the epicenter, the geology of the area, and the depth of its hypocente