Giuseppe Mercalli (1850–1914) was an Italian volcanologist and priest who is best known for developing the Mercalli intensity scale, which measures the effects of an earthquake based on observations and experiences of people in the affected areas. Unlike the Richter scale, which quantifies the energy released by an earthquake, the Mercalli scale is qualitative and assesses the impact of the earthquake, including damage to buildings, changes in the landscape, and human perceptions.
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