Our Vision: Why Intensity Matters
The case for putting shaking, not magnitude, at the center of earthquake communication.
For decades, the first question after an earthquake has been: "What was the magnitude?" While magnitude tells us the size of the earthquake at its source, it doesn't tell you how hard the ground shook at your front door.
At Intensity Lab, we believe that site-specific intensity is the most vital piece of information for the public. Our vision is a future where news reports prioritize shaking levels over source size. Knowing a quake was a Magnitude 7.0 is less important to a survivor than knowing their neighborhood experienced Intensity VIII (Severe) shaking.
Breaking the "Magnitude Habit"
One Magnitude each Earthquake
An earthquake's magnitude describes the total energy released at the earthquake source, the same value regardless of where you are.
Many Seismic Intensities each Earthquake
A seismic intensity describes the actual effects experienced by people and structures at specific locations, varying with distance, geology, and construction.
Earthquake Reporting Practices
U.S. earthquake reporting tends to focus on earthquake magnitude. Japan's earthquake reporting often leads with the JMA seismic intensity reports for population centers, reporting the shaking felt at each location rather than the magnitude at the source.