Final answer:
The disaster scales discussed in the book (Richter, Modified Mercalli, Fujita, Saffir-Simpson) vary in their numerical representation, and therefore C. some use smaller numbers and some use larger numbers to describe larger disasters.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scales mentioned—Richter for earthquakes, Modified Mercalli for seismic intensity, Fujita for tornadoes, and Saffir-Simpson for hurricanes—employ different numerical or categorical systems to denote the severity or size of disasters.
The Richter scale, for example, uses larger numbers to represent stronger earthquakes, with each whole number increase indicating a tenfold increase in amplitude of seismic waves. On the other hand, the Modified Mercalli scale uses Roman numerals to categorize the intensity of shaking based on observed effects, with higher Roman numerals denoting more severe shaking.
Similarly, the Fujita scale rates tornadoes on a scale from F0 to F5, with F5 being the most intense, while the Saffir-Simpson scale categorizes hurricanes from Category 1 to Category 5, with higher categories representing more powerful storms. Therefore, the disaster scales discussed do not universally use larger or smaller numbers but instead adopt different approaches for expressing the magnitude or intensity of disasters based on their specific characteristics. Understanding these scales is essential for accurately communicating the impact of various natural disasters.