Earthquake Intensity


Shaking Intensity


The size of an earthquake is often described using magnitude, which is the amount of energy released during an earthquake. However, not all of the energy released in an earthquake will necessarily be felt at the surface, depending on the earthquake's depth. In New Zealand, where earthquakes occur from near the surface right down to a depth of over 600 km, the Modified Mercalli intensity scale is a better indicator of an earthquake's effects on people and their environment.

Simplified New Zealand MMI Scale


The original Mercalli scale graded the effects of earthquakes into ten steps. The scale used in New Zealand is a twelve step ranking, hence Modified Mercalli (MM), with 1 representing the weakest of shaking, through to 12 representing almost complete destruction. The descriptions below are a simplified version of the New Zealand Modified Mercalli Intensity scale.

The table shows a simplified version of the New Zealand Modified Mercalli Intensity scale. We have added a generalised Intensity term.
MMIIntensityDescription
1
 unnoticeable
Barely sensed only by a very few people.
2
 unnoticeable
Felt only by a few people at rest in houses or on upper floors.
3
 weak
Felt indoors as a light vibration. Hanging objects may swing slightly.
4
 light
Generally noticed indoors, but not outside, as a moderate vibration or jolt. Light sleepers may be awakened. Walls may creak, and glassware, crockery, doors or windows rattle.
5
 moderate
Generally felt outside and by almost everyone indoors. Most sleepers are awakened and a few people alarmed. Small objects are shifted or overturned, and pictures knock against the wall. Some glassware and crockery may break, and loosely secured doors may swing open and shut.
6
 strong
Felt by all. People and animals are alarmed, and many run outside. Walking steadily is difficult. Furniture and appliances may move on smooth surfaces, and objects fall from walls and shelves. Glassware and crockery break. Slight non-structural damage to buildings may occur.
7
 severe
General alarm. People experience difficulty standing. Furniture and appliances are shifted. Substantial damage to fragile or unsecured objects. A few weak buildings are damaged.
8
 extreme
Alarm may approach panic. A few buildings are damaged and some weak buildings are destroyed.
9
 extreme
Some buildings are damaged and many weak buildings are destroyed.
10
 extreme
Many buildings are damaged and most weak buildings are destroyed.
11
 extreme
Most buildings are damaged and many buildings are destroyed.
12
 extreme
All buildings are damaged and most buildings are destroyed.

Common Alerting Protocol


Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) is a format for exchanging all-hazard emergency alerts and public warnings. CAP describes the severity of impact of a hazard as one of four terms: minor, moderate, severe or extreme.

The table shows how GeoNet classes these CAP Severity terms against the Modified Mercalli intensity descriptions.
MMIIntensityCAP Severity
1unnoticeableMinor
2unnoticeableMinor
3weakMinor
4lightMinor
5moderateMinor
6strongModerate
7severeSevere
8extremeExtreme
9extremeExtreme
10extremeExtreme
11extremeExtreme
12extremeExtreme