Meaning in geology & earth sciences, with examples
/ɪnˈtensəti/nounCommon term
In geology & earth sciences, intensity means: A measure of how strongly an earthquake's shaking is felt and how much damage it causes at a particular place. It usually decreases with distance from the source.
In Turkish: şiddet, deprem şiddeti
How it is used
Given in Roman numerals from I (not felt) to XII on scales such as the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale or the European Macroseismic Scale (EMS-98). After an earthquake it is shown on intensity maps or shakemaps.
Example sentences
The intensity reached IX in the town centre but only VI in the nearby villages.
Soft ground can increase the intensity of shaking.
Common collocations
intensity scale
maximum intensity
intensity map
Modified Mercalli Intensity
Related terms
magnitudeA number that describes the size of an earthquake at its source, based on the energy released. Each whole step on the scale means about 32 times more energy.
earthquakeA sudden shaking of the ground caused by rocks breaking and slipping along a fault, which releases energy as seismic waves.
epicenterThe point on the Earth's surface directly above the place underground where an earthquake starts.
seismic hazardThe likelihood that a given place will experience earthquake shaking of a certain strength within a certain period of time.
