APPENDIX B: New Tsunami Intensit y Scale (Papadopoul os and Imamura,
2001)
The new tsunami intensit y scale proposed by Papadopoulos and Imamura,
(2001) incorporates twelve divisions and is consistent with the several
twelve-grade seismic intensit y scales es tablished and extensively used in
Europe and North America in about the last 100 years. The new scale is
arranged accor ding to ( a ) the eff ects on humans , ( b ) the eff ects on
objects, including vessels of variable size, and on nature , and ( c ) dama ge
to buildings.
I- Not f elt
a) Not f elt even under t he most f avourable circumstances.
b) No ef f ect.
c) No damage.
IIa)
b)
c)
Scarcely f elt
Felt by f ew people on board in small vessels. Not obser ved in the coast.
No ef f ect.
No damage.
III- W eak
a) Felt by most people on boar d in small vessels. Obser ved by f ew people
in the coast.
b) No ef f ect.
c) No damage.
IV- Largely obser ved
a) Felt by all on board in small vessels and by f ew people on board in large
vessels. Obser ved by most people in the coast.
b) Few small vessels m ove slightly onshore.
c) No damage.
V- Strong
a) Felt by all on board in large vessels and obser ved by all in the coast. Few
people ar e f rightened and run to higher ground.
b) Many small vessels move stronlg y onshore , f ew of them crash each other
or overturn. Traces of sand layer are lef t behind in grounds of f avourable
conditions. Limited f looding of cultivated land.
c) Limit ed f looding of outdoors f acilities (e.g. gardens) of near -shore
structures.
VI- Slightly damaging
a) Many people are f rightened and r un to higher ground.
b) Most small vessels move violently onshore, or crash stronly each other,
or overturn.
c) Damage and f looding in a f ew wooden structures. Most masonry buildings
withstand.
VII- Damaging
a) Most people are f rightened and tr y to run in highe r ground.
b) Many small vessels damaged. Few lar ge vessels oscillat e violently.
Objects of variable size and stabilit y overturn and drif t. Sand layer and
accumulat ions of pebbles are lef t behind. Few aquacult ure raf ts washed
away.
c)
Many wooden struct ures dam aged, f ew are demolished or washed away.
Damage of grade 1 and f looding in a f ew masonr y buildings.
VIII- Heavily damaging
a) All people escape to higher ground, a f ew are washed away.
b) Most of the small vessels are damaged , many are washed away. Few
large vessels are m oved ashore or crashed each other. Big objects are
drif ted away. Errosion and littering in the beach. Extensive f looding .
Slight damage in tsunami control f orest, stop drif ts. Many aquacult ure
raf ts washed away, few part ially damaged.
c)
Most wooden struct ures are washed away or demolished. Damage of
grade 2 in a f ew masonr y buildings. Most RC buildings sustain damage,
in a f ew damage of grade 1 and f looding is obser ved.
IX- Destructive
a)
Many people ar e washed away.
b)
Most small vessels are destructed or washed away. Many large
vessels are moved
violent ly ashore , f ew are destructed. Ext ensive
errosion and littering of the beach. Local ground subsidence. Part ial
destruction in tsunami control f orest, stop drif ts. Most aquaculture r af ts
washed away, many partially damaged.
c)
Damage of grade 3 in many masonr y buildings , f ew RC buildings suff er
f rom damage grade 2.
X- Very destructive
a)
General panic. Most people ar e washed away.
b)
Most large vessels are moved violently ashore , many a re destructed
or collided with buildings. Small bolders f rom the sea bottom are moved
inland. Cars overtur ned and drif eted. Oil spill, f ires st art. Extensive
ground subsidence.
c)
Damage of grade 4 in many masonr y buildings , f ew RC buildings suff er
f rom damage grade 3. Art if icial embankments collapse, port water
breaks damaged.
XI- Devast ating
b)
Lif elines int errupted. Ext ensive f ires. W ater back wash dr if ts cars and
other objects in the sea. Big bolders f rom the sea bottom are moved
inland.
c)
Damage of grade 5 in many masonr y buildings. Few RC buildings
suff er f rom damage grade 4, many suff er from damage grade 3.
XII- Completely devastating
c)
Practically all masonr y buildings demolished. Most RC buildings
suff er f rom at least damage grade 3.