Quanafi Intensity Scale

This scale was borrowed from the Quanafi and is used to compare long term effects of modern and historical events (positive and negative) and disasters, although most humans will use it strictly for natural disasters. This is not meant to replace any other intensity scales such as the Mercalli Intensity Scale and its variations.

Great – Eshenlim

An occurrence that changes the course of history, and / or drastically changes our knowledge of how the world works. Could actually cause very little damage yet still cause this change. Similarly, in the positive sense it also changes the course of history or our knowledge, but instead of damaging it helps or restores life or beauty.

Examples:

Mt. St. Helens, 1980 (changed volcanic knowledge)

Possibly Sumatra Quake/Indian Ocean Tsunami 2004 (too recent to tell)

Nevados del Ruiz Lahar (find name and date)

Devastating / Revitalizing – Guyalim

Totally ruins surrounding area, wipes out most/all of any settlements, land barren for decades without intervention. For the positive meaning it totally brings back an area far better than before.

Examples:

Sumatra Quake/Indian Ocean Tsunami, 2004

Vesuvius, 79 A.D.

Kraktau, 1867

Possibly Hurricane Katrina, 2005

Major – Cheshilim

Casualties far less (generally due to technology, evacuations, or being an uninhabited area), but the devastation or strength is still intense. History alludes to it often. Positive meaning is akin to “notable.”

Examples:

Good Friday Quake, Alaska, 1964

San Francisco Quake and Fire, 1906*

Mt. St. Helens, 1980

Possibly hurricane season, 2004 or 2005

Guinsaugon (sp?), Philippines Mudslide 2006 (possibly, may be devastating / significant)

Significant – Gimalim

Death and destruction at the time but soon forgotten.

Example: The first Las Conchitas Landslide

Interesting – Urelim

Maybe unusual or popular at the time, but no one gets hurt

Example: Mt. St. Helens, 2004-2005

Localized – Tolalim

Affects few, known only to locals, outsiders only care for at most a couple weeks.

Example: Nisqually Quake, 2000

Minor – Requalim

Only scientists even know or care, locals don’t notice.

Example: Any M 3.0 or less in Southern California

Insignificant – Filim

Even scientists don’t really care.

Example: Any M 2.0 or less in Southern California

Note that this intensity scale can apply to any sort of person, event, or the like with minor changes. This does not measure the actual size of the occurrence, or even its perceived size. Instead, it measures its long-term impact in the area and to outsiders. As such, Mt. St. Helens in 2004, which was far less damaging and deadly (no deaths at St. Helens) than the M 6.8 Nisqually Quake, still had farther reaching attention given it, as most people outside the Seattle area soon forgot about the quake, but St. Helens was monitored day and night by volcano enthusiasts around the world for months on end. Those two rankings especially, as well as Devastating/Major are pretty fluid distinctions. After about a decade, the government usually codifies a ranking for a specific event.

The first few positive meanings are clarified above, but in general a positive event measured on the scale replaces harm with help. Things measured on this scale, for either positive or negative, are assumed to include both positive and negative aspects, with one predominating. This is due to the Quanafi belief that anything worth commenting on affects the world enough to influence things for both good and bad. An example may be a murderous dictator who brings some sort of peace between opposing groups for his own ends, or a volcano that turns a landscape barren but provides fertile soil for new and healthier life, or a wildfire that opens pinecones. Positive examples could be something like winning the lottery and the person being corrupted by it, or someone who peacefully ends a murderous regime yet represses others in milder ways.