What's the Richter Scale?
The Richter Scale uses numbers 1-10 to rank earthquakes.
- 0.1-1.9 Can only be detected through a seismograph
- 2-2.9 Hanging objects may swing
- 3-3.9 Comparable to the vibrations of a passing truck
- 4-4.9 May break windows, cause small or unstable objects to fall
- 5-5.9 Furniture moves, chunks of plaster may fall from walls
- 6-6.9 Damage to well-built structures, severe damage to poorly built ones
- 7-7.9 Buildings displaced from foundations, cracks in earth, underground pipes broken
- 8-8.9 Bridges destroyed, few structures left standing
- 9+ Near-total destruction, waves moving through the earth visible to see with naked eye
What's the Modified Mercalli Scale?
The Modified Mercalli Scale uses numbers 1-12 to rank earthquakes.
- Not felt.
- Felt by persons at rest, on upper floors, or favorably placed.
- Felt indoors. Vibration like passing of light trucks.
- Vibration like passing of heavy trucks.
- Felt outdoors. Small unstable objects displaced or upset.
- Felt by all. Furniture is moved. Weak plaster/masonry cracks.
- Difficult to stand. Damage to masonry and chimneys.
- Partial collapse of masonry. Frame houses moved.
- Masonry seriously damaged or destroyed.
- Many buildings and bridges destroyed.
- Rails bent greatly. Pipelines severely damaged.
- Damage nearly total.
The Kanto Earthquake of 1923
Richter Scale: 7.9 Buildings displaced from foundations, cracks in earth, underground pipes broken
Modified Mercalli Scale: 10* Many buildings and bridges destroyed
*could not be found during research but used an estimation
Modified Mercalli Scale: 10* Many buildings and bridges destroyed
*could not be found during research but used an estimation