Seismogeological and hydrological criteria for the New European Macroseismic Scale (MSK-92)

In 1988, an ESC Working Group Macroseismic Scales started upgrading the MSK-81 Intensity Scale. This paper presents the background and decisions made with respect to the so-called seismogeological effects. Discussion has pointed out that they cannot be treated and used in the same way as the effects on humans, objects and buildings, for many reasons. Therefore, the WG adopted the solution of using such effects as a side tool for intensity assessment, providing a comprehensive table where the experimental relations between seismogeological effects and intensity degrees - assessed by means of other effects - are presented.