THE BEAUFORT SCALE & THE RICHTER SCALE

 

Many people have contacted me, as they have been unable to track down these two very important scales, so I have done the hard work and created this easy to understand page giving you all the basic information.

 

THE RICHTER SCALE 
 ( EARTHQUAKES )

Magnitude

Description

2.

Usually not felt by people, only by instruments, but might be felt on upper floors and by instruments.

3.

 Felt in doors, vibration are like a heavy vehicle passing
dishes, ornaments are disturbed, some noise of cracking possible.

4.

 Felt by all, slight damage to contents and property, broken windows, trees uprooted etc.

5.

 People frightened, running out doors, moderate damage to poorly built structures, minor damage to strong buildings, some fallen chimneys and walls.

6.

 Moderate damage to good structures, Major damage to columns, chimneys, walls fall, Well water changes with sand and mud ejected.

7.

 Major damage to all structures, the ground will be cracked, sewer pipes fracture, foundations shift, landslides, water sloshing over river banks, masonry and brickwork collapses.

8.

 Almost all structures destroyed, bridges fall, Fissures open up in the ground and the ground  slumps back, railway lines bend.

9.

 Anything stronger is total destruction ground surface seen to move like waves, objects thrown into the air, all construction destroyed.


THE BEAUFORT SCALE
( WIND SPEED )

Force No :

Wind Speed

Description

0.

<1 mph

Calm : 
Still, smoke rises vertically, the sea is mirror smooth

1.

1-3 mph

 light Air:
Smoke drifts, wind vain inactive, scale like ripples on the sea, no foam or wave crests.

2.

4-7 mph

 Light Breeze :
Leaves rustle, can feel wind on your face, wind vain active, short wavelets, glassy wave crests.

3.

8-12 mph

 Gentle Breeze :
Leaves and twigs move around, flags extend, long wavelets, glassy wave crests.

4.

13-18 mph

 Moderate Breeze :
Moves thin branches, raises dust and paper, white caps to waves.

5.

19-24 mph

 Fresh Breeze :
Small trees sway, moderate waves with many white foam crests.

6.

25-31 mph

 Strong Breeze :
Large tree branches move, open wire begin to "whistle" umbrellas hard to control, some spray on sea surface.

7.

32-38 mph

Moderate gale :
Large trees begin to sway, difficult to walk, foam from waves blown in streaks.

8.

39-46 mph

 Fresh Gale :
Small branches broken from trees, Walking in the wind is very difficult, long streaks of foam appear on the sea.

9.

47-54 mph

 Strong Gale :
Slight damage to buildings, slates are blown of roofs, high waves crests start to role over.

10.

55-63 mph

 Whole Gale :
Large trees uprooted, considerable damage to buildings, the sea takes on a white appearance.

11.

64-72 mph

 Storm :
Extensive widespread damage, exceptionally high waves, visibility impaired.

12.

>73 mph

 Hurricane :
Extreme destruction, storm waves at sea, air filled with spray and foam.