Understanding Intensity Scale and the sense of feeling

The common Intensity and Magnitude Scales used all over the world. See blog on Intensity and Magnitude

The image on the left shows the Shindo Scale used in Japan. The Scale ranges from Shindo 1 up to Shindo 7. The Shindo scale steps are as follows: Shindo 1 Shindo 2 Shindo 3 Shindo 4 Shindo 5 - lower Shindo 5 - upper Shindo 6 - lower Shindo 6 - upper Shindo 7 Shindo 7 is the most devastating earthquake. Shindo scale intensity is based on the instrument recorded value in terms of gals. One of this instrument is the combination of SW-72R with SW-74SI. Please see our other page about Earthquake Alarm / Monitoring System.

Mercalli Scale

European Macroseismic Intensity Scale

1. Not felt — detected by seismic instruments only
2. Very weak — felt by very few people
3. Weak — felt by a few people indoors
4. Noticed by many people, windows and doors rattle
5. Strong — some small objects fall over
6. Slightly damaging — objects fall off shelves
7. Damaging — parts of chimneys fall
8. Very damaging — large cracks in walls
9. Destructive — some houses collapse
10. Very destructive — many houses collapse
11. Devastating — most ordinary buildings collapse
12. Completely devastating — practically all structures above and below ground are heavily damaged or destroyed