Discussion:
Richter or Merkel ?
(too old to reply)
Steve Brown
2022-08-11 05:04:28 UTC
Permalink
In the film San Andreas, do we use the Richter scale or the Merkel scale to measure earthquakes?

We should remember this information, after all, Americans don't make films for nothing, films are also an education.
Quadibloc
2022-08-15 20:30:17 UTC
Permalink
Post by Steve Brown
In the film San Andreas, do we use the Richter scale or the Merkel scale to measure earthquakes?
We should remember this information, after all, Americans don't make films for nothing, films are also an education.
Most people have only heard of the Richter scale. The only thing the name Merkel
suggests is a former German chancellor.

John Savard
Quadibloc
2022-08-15 20:33:57 UTC
Permalink
Post by Quadibloc
Post by Steve Brown
In the film San Andreas, do we use the Richter scale or the Merkel scale to measure earthquakes?
We should remember this information, after all, Americans don't make films for nothing, films are also an education.
Most people have only heard of the Richter scale. The only thing the name Merkel
suggests is a former German chancellor.
A Google search turns up no evidence of a Merkel scale for earthquakes even existing.

However, it did produce results referring to a *Mercalli* scale for earthquakes. That name
rang a bell, and indeed, it's a scale based on the observed damage produced by an
earthquake.

John Savard
Quadibloc
2022-08-15 20:37:09 UTC
Permalink
Post by Quadibloc
Post by Quadibloc
Post by Steve Brown
In the film San Andreas, do we use the Richter scale or the Merkel scale to measure earthquakes?
We should remember this information, after all, Americans don't make films for nothing, films are also an education.
Most people have only heard of the Richter scale. The only thing the name Merkel
suggests is a former German chancellor.
A Google search turns up no evidence of a Merkel scale for earthquakes even existing.
However, it did produce results referring to a *Mercalli* scale for earthquakes. That name
rang a bell, and indeed, it's a scale based on the observed damage produced by an
earthquake.
Specific to your question: I haven't seen the movie. However, the Wikipedia
article on the movie mentions a "7.1 magnitude" and a "9.1 magnitude"
earthquake as being events in the movie. Those numbers are consistent with
the use of the Richter scale.

John Savard
Steve Brown
2023-03-30 05:15:30 UTC
Permalink
Post by Quadibloc
Post by Quadibloc
Post by Quadibloc
Post by Steve Brown
In the film San Andreas, do we use the Richter scale or the Merkel scale to measure earthquakes?
We should remember this information, after all, Americans don't make films for nothing, films are also an education.
Most people have only heard of the Richter scale. The only thing the name Merkel
suggests is a former German chancellor.
A Google search turns up no evidence of a Merkel scale for earthquakes even existing.
However, it did produce results referring to a *Mercalli* scale for earthquakes. That name
rang a bell, and indeed, it's a scale based on the observed damage produced by an
earthquake.
Specific to your question: I haven't seen the movie. However, the Wikipedia
article on the movie mentions a "7.1 magnitude" and a "9.1 magnitude"
earthquake as being events in the movie. Those numbers are consistent with
the use of the Richter scale.
John Savard
Sorry, it's Mercalli scale, not Merkel.
bert
2023-04-01 13:37:18 UTC
Permalink
A Google search . . . did produce results referring to a
*Mercalli* scale for earthquakes . . . it's a scale based
on the observed damage produced by an earthquake.
What earthly use is a scale based on the strength of the
earthquake and the weaknesses of the local buildings?
maus
2023-04-01 14:46:34 UTC
Permalink
Post by bert
A Google search . . . did produce results referring to a
*Mercalli* scale for earthquakes . . . it's a scale based
on the observed damage produced by an earthquake.
What earthly use is a scale based on the strength of the
earthquake and the weaknesses of the local buildings?
I should say that I saw building when I was in Syria, and the quality of
the concrete was very poor. There is a lot of salt in the water. Also, a
lot of the buildings were never really finished for tax reasons.

(I have worked in many areas)
--
***@mail.com
where is our money gone, Dude?
D.J.
2023-04-01 16:34:36 UTC
Permalink
Post by maus
Post by bert
A Google search . . . did produce results referring to a
*Mercalli* scale for earthquakes . . . it's a scale based
on the observed damage produced by an earthquake.
What earthly use is a scale based on the strength of the
earthquake and the weaknesses of the local buildings?
I should say that I saw building when I was in Syria, and the quality of
the concrete was very poor. There is a lot of salt in the water. Also, a
lot of the buildings were never really finished for tax reasons.
(I have worked in many areas)
From the coverage I saw, no rebar. That the buildings stayed up this
long was astounding.
--
Jim
maus
2023-04-01 18:10:59 UTC
Permalink
Post by D.J.
Post by maus
Post by bert
A Google search . . . did produce results referring to a
*Mercalli* scale for earthquakes . . . it's a scale based
on the observed damage produced by an earthquake.
What earthly use is a scale based on the strength of the
earthquake and the weaknesses of the local buildings?
I should say that I saw building when I was in Syria, and the quality of
the concrete was very poor. There is a lot of salt in the water. Also, a
lot of the buildings were never really finished for tax reasons.
(I have worked in many areas)
From the coverage I saw, no rebar. That the buildings stayed up this
long was astounding.
agreed.

I wonder how the citadel in Allepo fared, on of the oldest buildings in
the world. I meant to get back to see it later, never, now I suppose.
--
***@mail.com
where is our money gone, Dude?
D.J.
2023-04-02 15:28:46 UTC
Permalink
Post by maus
Post by D.J.
From the coverage I saw, no rebar. That the buildings stayed up this
long was astounding.
agreed.
I wonder how the citadel in Allepo fared, on of the oldest buildings in
the world. I meant to get back to see it later, never, now I suppose.
From various archaeology programs I have watched, many centuries older
buildings do survive earthquakes.
--
Jim
Vir Campestris
2023-04-03 11:21:48 UTC
Permalink
Post by D.J.
From various archaeology programs I have watched, many centuries older
buildings do survive earthquakes.
Possibly survivorship bias.

The centuries old buildings we see are those that were built well enough
to survive previous earthquakes. The badly built ones fell over long ago.

Andy
D.J.
2023-04-03 16:09:18 UTC
Permalink
On Mon, 3 Apr 2023 12:21:48 +0100, Vir Campestris
Post by Vir Campestris
Post by D.J.
From various archaeology programs I have watched, many centuries older
buildings do survive earthquakes.
Possibly survivorship bias.
The centuries old buildings we see are those that were built well enough
to survive previous earthquakes. The badly built ones fell over long ago.
Andy
First time I've heard that term used for buildings. But I have seen
documentaries where centuries older buildings did fall down during
earthquakes.
--
Jim
Loading...