Earthquake scale: How they are measured and what the magnitude and intensity scales mean
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The movement of sudden tectonic plates causes seismic activity underground.
Earthquakes and seismic activity often happen with sudden movements underground with tectonic plates.
Seismographs are used by scientists to measure the time, location and strength of an earthquake. Magnitude illustrates the strength of an earthquake, according to AccuWeather.
Following an earthquake, several seismic stations submit their readings to reach a consensus about the quake.
The readings are communicated in terms of magnitude, and the intensity, based on the effects on people and structures, is communicated with the Modified Mercalli (MM) Intensity Scale.
https://abc7news.com/earthquake-alaska-damage-scale/2439909/