Question

The Mercalli intensity scale tends to be very subjective and thus is generally only used for historical earthquakes that were near people but were not recorded by seismometers. Why might the Mercalli scale be subjective?
a) It relies on testimony from people.
b) It does not take into account distance.
c) It can only be used for large earthquakes.
d) It cannot be used in heavily populated areas.

Answer 1

Answer:

The correct answer is: a) it relies on testimony from people.

Explanation:

The Mercalli intensity scale, unlike the Richter scale, does not directly measure the energy of an earthquake. Rather, it takes into account the damage and effects that the earthquake caused. When there is little damage, it relies on the testimony of people who felt the earthquake, which may vary and is ultimately subjective to people's perception.

The Mercalli Intensity Scale ranges from "Not felt" to "Catastrophic" going through 12 scale intensities.