Final answer:
The Modified Mercalli Scale is qualitative as it measures earthquake impacts through observations and descriptions, unlike the Richter Scale, which provides quantitative numerical measurements.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Modified Mercalli Scale is qualitative in nature because it measures the effects of an earthquake in terms of the human and structural impacts it causes, rather than providing a precise numerical measurement of the ground motion. It relies on subjective observations and descriptions such as the scale of damage, the experiences of people, and changes in natural surroundings. This contrasts with quantitative measurements like those provided by the Richter Scale, which quantifies earthquakes on a numerical scale based on the amplitude of seismic waves recorded by instruments.