Medvedev-Sponheuer-Kárník scale
The MSK scale ( Medvedev-Sponheuer-Karnik scale ) indicates the intensity of an earthquake in twelve degrees of strength. It was developed in 1964 by Sergei Wassiljewitsch Medwedew , Wilhelm Sponheuer and Vít Kárník on the basis of the Modified Mercalli scale and the Medvedev scale (later GEOFIAN scale ).
In contrast to magnitude scales , such as the well-known Richter scale , an intensity scale describes the effects of an earthquake on the landscape, streets or buildings that can be perceived without instruments ( macro-seismics ). Depending on the local conditions, a single earthquake classified according to such a scale can have different strengths in different places. Examples of other intensity scales include the JMA scale , the European Macroseismic Scale (EMS scale) or the Rossi-Forel scale .
| Degree of strength | observation |
| I. | only earthquakes measuring instruments ( seismographs registered) |
| II | only occasionally felt by resting people |
| III | only felt by a few people |
| IV | felt by many people; Clink dishes and windows |
| V | many sleepers wake up; commute hanging objects |
| VI | slight plaster damage to buildings |
| VII | Cracks in the plaster, walls and chimneys |
| VIII | large cracks in the brickwork, gable parts and roof cornices collapse |
| IX | walls and roofs collapse on some buildings; there are landslides observed |
| X | Collapse of many buildings; Crevices in the ground |
| XI | numerous crevices in the ground; Landslides in the mountains |
| XII | strong changes on the earth's surface |
See also