| European Macroseismic Scale |
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The history of the EMS has began in 1988 when the European Seismological Commission (ESC) decided to review and update the Medvedev-Sponheuer-Karnik Scale (MSK-64) , which was used in its basic form in Europe for almost a quarter of a century. After more than five years of intensive research and development and a three-year testing period, the new scale was born. In 1996 the XXV General Assembly of the ESC in Reykjavik passed a resolution recommending the adoption of the new scale by the member countries of the European Seismological Commission . Unlike the Earthquake magnitude scales, which express the seismic energy released by an earthquake, EMS 98 intensity denotes how strongly an earthquake affects a specific place. The European Macroseismic Scale has 12 divisions, as follows: # Not felt—Not felt, even under the most favorable circumstances. # Scarcely felt-Vibration is felt only by individual people at rest in houses, especially on upper floors of buildings. # Weak-The vibration is weak and is felt indoors by a few people. People at rest feel a swaying or light trembling. # Largely observed-The earthquake is felt indoors by many people, outdoors by very few. A few people are awakened. The level of vibration is not frightening. Windows, doors and dishes rattle. Hanging objects swing. # Strong-The earthquake is felt indoors by most, outdoors by few. Many sleeping people awake. A few run outdoors. Buildings tremble throughout. Hanging objects swing considerably. China and glasses clatter together. The vibration is strong. Topheavy objects topple over. Doors and windows swing open or shut. # Slightly damaging-Felt by most indoors and by many outdoors. Many people in buildings are frightened and run outdoors. Small objects fall. Slight damage to many ordinary buildings; for example, fine cracks in plaster and small pieces of plaster fall. # Damaging-Most people are frightened and run outdoors. Furniture is shifted and objects fall from shelves in large numbers. Many ordinary buildings suffer moderate damage: small cracks in walls; partial collapse of chimneys. # Heavily damaging-Furniture may be overturned. Many ordinary buildings suffer damage: chimneys fall; large cracks appear in walls and a few buildings may partially collapse. # Destructive-Monuments and columns fall or are twisted. Many ordinary buildings partially collapse and a few collapse completely. # Very destructive-Many ordinary buildings collapse. # Devastating-Most ordinary buildings collapse. # Completely devastating-Practically all structures above and below ground are heavily damaged or destroyed. The European Macroseismic Scale is the first intensity scale designed to encourage co-operation between engineers and seismologists, rather than being for use by seismologists alone. It comes with a detailed manual, which includes guidelines, illustrations, and application examples. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS |