Answer:
The effect of an earthquake on the Earth's surface is called intensity. The intensity scale consists of a series of certain key responses, such as the awakening of people, the movement of furniture, damage to fireplaces and, finally, total destruction. Although intensity scales have been developed in the last few hundred years to assess the effects of earthquakes, the one currently used in the United States is the modified Mercalli Intensity Scale (MM). It was developed in 1931 by American seismologists Harry Wood and Frank Neumann. Composed of increasing levels of intensity ranging from imperceptible shaking to catastrophic destruction, this scale is designated by Roman numerals. It does not have a mathematical basis; instead, it is an arbitrary classification based on the observed effects.
Step-by-step explanation:
The modified Mercalli intensity value assigned to a specific site after an earthquake has a more significant measure of severity for the nonscientist than magnitude because intensity refers to the effects actually experienced at that location.
The lower numbers on the intensity scale vary depending on how people experience the earthquake. The highest numbers on the scale are based on observed structural damage. Structured engineers provide information to assign intensity values of VIII or higher.