scholarly journals Uncertain historical earthquakes and seismic hazard: theoretical and practical considerations

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Päivi Mäntyniemi ◽  
Ruben E. Tatevossian ◽  
Tatiana N. Tatevossian
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Hazard ◽  
Historical Earthquakes

The Gutenberg-Richter or characteristic earthquake distribution, which is it?

1994 ◽  
Vol 84 (6) ◽  
pp. 1940-1959 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven G. Wesnousky
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Hazard ◽  
Hazard Analysis ◽  
Slip Rate ◽  
Historical Earthquakes ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Characteristic Earthquake ◽  
Earthquake Model ◽  
Earthquake Distribution ◽  
Fault Trace ◽  
Major Strike

Abstract Paleoearthquake and fault slip-rate data are combined with the CIT-USGS catalog for the period 1944 to 1992 to examine the shape of the magnitude-frequency distribution along the major strike-slip faults of southern California. The resulting distributions for the Newport-Inglewood, Elsinore, Garlock, and San Andreas faults are in accord with the characteristic earthquake model of fault behavior. The distribution observed along the San Jacinto fault satisfies the Gutenberg-Richter relationship. If attention is limited to segments of the San Jacinto that are marked by the rupture zones of large historical earthquakes or distinct steps in fault trace, the observed distribution along each segment is consistent with the characteristic earthquake model. The Gutenberg-Richter distribution observed for the entirety of the San Jacinto may reflect the sum of seismicity along a number of distinct fault segments, each of which displays a characteristic earthquake distribution. The limited period of instrumental recording is insufficient to disprove the hypothesis that all faults will display a Gutenberg-Richter distribution when averaged over the course of a complete earthquake cycle. But, given that (1) the last 5 decades of seismicity are the best indicators of the expected level of small to moderate-size earthquakes in the next 50 years, and (2) it is generally about this period of time that is of interest in seismic hazard and engineering analysis, the answer to the question posed in the title of the article, at least when concerned with practical implementation of seismic hazard analysis at sites along these major faults, appears to be the “characteristic earthquake distribution.”

scholarly journals Seismic hazard assessment of Iran

1999 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Tavakoli ◽  
M. Ghafory-Ashtiany
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Hazard ◽  
Peak Ground Acceleration ◽  
Grid Point ◽  
Seismic Hazard Assessment ◽  
Earthquake Hazard ◽  
Seismic Source ◽  
Historical Earthquakes ◽  
Earthquake Insurance ◽  
Ground Acceleration ◽  
Seismic Source Models

The development of the new seismic hazard map of Iran is based on probabilistic seismic hazard computation using the historical earthquakes data, geology, tectonics, fault activity and seismic source models in Iran. These maps have been prepared to indicate the earthquake hazard of Iran in the form of iso-acceleration contour lines, and seismic hazard zoning, by using current probabilistic procedures. They display the probabilistic estimates of Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) for the return periods of 75 and 475 years. The maps have been divided into intervals of 0.25 degrees in both latitudinal and longitudinal directions to calculate the peak ground acceleration values at each grid point and draw the seismic hazard curves. The results presented in this study will provide the basis for the preparation of seismic risk maps, the estimation of earthquake insurance premiums, and the preliminary site evaluation of critical facilities.

scholarly journals Seismogenic ancient structures of the central and northern part of the East European platform

2019 ◽  
Vol 489 (4) ◽  
pp. 405-408
Author(s):  
V. V. Adushkin ◽  
I. A. Sanina ◽  
G. N. Ivanchenko ◽  
E. M. Gorbunova ◽  
I. P. Gabsatarova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Hazard ◽  
Seismic Activity ◽  
East European Platform ◽  
Historical Earthquakes ◽  
Seismic Array ◽  
Small Aperture ◽  
Seismic Stations ◽  
East European

The analysis of the location of the epicenters of earthquakes that occurred in the central and northern part of the East European platform in 2009-2016, recorded by the seismic stations of the GS RAS and the small aperture seismic array of IGD RAS Mikhnevo was performed. The results obtained indirectly indicate the seismic activity of the Riphean structures of the region, disturbing the surface of the basement, and their possible activation at the present time. Available data on historical earthquakes also confirm their relevance to paleorifts. It seems important to take into account the position of the ancient aulacogens in assessing the seismic hazard of the East European platform.

The 1922 Peninsula Malaysia Earthquakes: Rare Intraplate Seismicity within the Sundaland Block in Southeast Asia

2020 ◽  
Vol 91 (5) ◽  
pp. 2531-2545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stacey Servito Martin ◽  
Yu Wang ◽  
Muzli Muzli ◽  
Shengji Wei
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Hazard ◽  
Southeast Asia ◽  
Historical Earthquakes ◽  
Historical Seismicity ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Malay Peninsula ◽  
Building Stock ◽  
Period Effects ◽  
Need To Evaluate ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Seismic hazard in the southern Malay Peninsula located within the Sundaland block in Southeast Asia is poorly understood. The paucity of historical earthquakes and low-magnitude instrumented seismicity has led to the assumption that this region is largely aseismic. We question this point of view by reassessing historical seismicity in this region and, in particular, a pair of moderate earthquakes in the 1920s. The first of these struck on 31 January 1922 at ≈9:10  a.m. local time (LT) for which we estimate an intensity magnitude (MI) ≈5.4, and for the second earthquake on 7 February 1922 at ≈12:15  p.m. LT, we estimate MI≈5.0. We also identify at least 34 felt earthquakes between 1803 and 1950 that were potentially local within the Sundaland block. These include a very widely felt shock (or set of shocks) on 26 June 1874 that was felt in parts of Borneo, Java, and Sumatra. The discovery of these earthquakes challenges the tectonic stability of the Malay Peninsula and the stable interior of the Sundaland block. The record of historical seismicity in this region relies heavily on European sources, and we recommend locating and consulting indigenous sources to improve the current understanding of regional seismic hazard. We also underscore the need to evaluate the impact of ground motions from rare local earthquakes on the extant building stock and on transportation infrastructure that are otherwise relatively immune to the long-period effects of distant earthquakes commonly felt in the Malay Peninsula.

The analysis of historical seismograms: an important tool for seismic hazard assessment. Case histories from French and Italian earthquakes

2011 ◽  
Vol 182 (4) ◽  
pp. 367-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Alessandro Pino
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Hazard ◽  
Hazard Assessment ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Source Parameters ◽  
Seismic Hazard Assessment ◽  
Historical Earthquakes ◽  
Waveform Analysis ◽  
Source Characteristics ◽  
Seismic Waveform ◽  
Earthquake Source Parameters

AbstractSeismic hazard assessment relies on the knowledge of the source characteristics of past earthquakes. Unfortunately, seismic waveform analysis, representing the most powerful tool for the investigation of earthquake source parameters, is only possible for events occurred in the last 100–120 years, i.e., since seismographs with known response function were developed. Nevertheless, during this time significant earthquakes have been recorded by such instruments and today, also thanks to technological progress, these data can be recovered and analysed by means of modern techniques.In this paper, aiming at giving a general sketch of possible analyses and attainable results in historical seismogram studies, I briefly describe the major difficulties in processing the original waveforms and present a review of the results that I obtained from previous seismogram analysis of selected significant historical earthquakes occurred during the first decades of the XXth century, including (A) the December 28, 1908, Messina straits (southern Italy), (B) the June 11, 1909, Lambesc (southern France) – both of which are the strongest ever recorded instrumentally in their respective countries –and (C) the July 13, 1930, Irpinia (southern Italy) events. For these earthquakes, the major achievements are represented by the assessment of the seismic moment (A, B, C), the geometry and kinematics of faulting (B, C), the fault length and an approximate slip distribution (A, C). The source characteristics of the studied events have also been interpreted in the frame of the tectonic environment active in the respective region of interest. In spite of the difficulties inherent to the investigation of old seismic data, these results demonstrate the invaluable and irreplaceable role of historical seismogram analysis in defining the local seismogenic potential and, ultimately, for assessing the seismic hazard. The retrieved information is crucial in areas where important civil engineering works are planned, as in the case of the single-span bridge to be built across the Messina straits and the ITER nuclear fusion power plant to be built in Cadarache, close to the location of the Lambesc event, and in regions characterized by high seismic risk, such as southern Apennines.

Six Major Historical Earthquakes in the Seoul Metropolitan Area during the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910)

2020 ◽  
Vol 110 (6) ◽  
pp. 3037-3049 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seongjun Park ◽  
Inho Baek ◽  
Tae-Kyung Hong
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
Seismic Hazard ◽  
Metropolitan Area ◽  
Joint Inversion ◽  
Historical Earthquakes ◽  
Seismic Damage ◽  
Inversion Method ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Seoul Metropolitan Area ◽  
Joseon Dynasty

ABSTRACT Earthquake records in the historical literature provide valuable information on the seismic hazard potentials for long recurrence times. The Seoul metropolitan area is the center of the economy and infrastructure in South Korea. Six major earthquakes that occurred around the Seoul metropolitan area during the Joseon dynasty in 1392–1910 are analyzed using a probabilistic joint inversion method based on seismic damage records and earthquake-felt reports. The inversion yields sets of event locations and magnitudes with probabilities. The joint inversion method is validated with synthetic and instrumentally observed data sets. The historical earthquakes are found to be located around the Seoul metropolitan area. The magnitudes of the earthquakes range from ML 5.3 to 6.8 at the peak probabilistic locations. These historical earthquakes suggest considerable seismic hazard potentials in the Seoul metropolitan area.

scholarly journals Seismicity and Seismotectonics of the Western Lake Ontario Region

2007 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 353-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arsalan A. Mohajer
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Hazard ◽  
Probabilistic Approach ◽  
Lake Ontario ◽  
Historical Earthquakes ◽  
Depth Range ◽  
Seismic Zone ◽  
Considerable Uncertainty ◽  
Local Earthquakes ◽  
Western Lake ◽  
Hazard Assessments

ABSTRACTThe western Lake Ontario region, a traditionally perceived area of low seismic risk, is densely populated and is home to, among other critical facilities, the nuclear reactors of Pickering and Darlington. These and other characteristics of the region call for improved estimates of seismic hazard. Due to a lack of understanding of the causative geological sources and recurrence characteristics of the reported seismic activity, there is considerable uncertainty regarding estimated ground motion parameters, a fundamental component of seismic hazard assessments. To attempt to improve the definition of the seismic source zones and, consequently, seismic hazard assessments, the hypocentres of about 30 local earthquakes were recomputed. A new data compilation, based on the revised locations or those with the least travel-time residuals, shows that local microearthquakes (ML"3.5) generally occur along, or at the intersection of, prominent aeromagnetic or gravity anomalies. A notable seismicity trend extends in a northeast-southwest direction between Toronto and Hamilton, and is bounded by magnetic lineaments. A major geological structure, the Central Metasedimentary Belt Boundary Zone (CMBBZ), coincides with a strong aeromagnetic anomaly which extends to the northeast into the Western Québec Seismic Zone. This magnetic lineament also extends to the south, across Lake Ontario, to join the Akron (Ohio) magnetic boundary that was associated with several historical earthquakes and with a mb=4.9 earthquake in 1986. Most of the seismic events recorded instrumentally in the 20th century have occurred within a depth range of 5 to 20 km. This observation supports the correlation of local earthquakes with deep geophysical and geological features, suggesting contemporary reactivation of basement structures. This may imply that a more conservative deterministic hazard estimate is needed to verify the probabilistic approach currently used to assess seismic hazard in southern Ontario.

scholarly journals On historical earthquakes in Switzerland: summary of compilations and investigations

2009 ◽  
Vol 47 (2-3) ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Mayer-Rosa ◽  
G. Schwarz-Zanetti
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Hazard ◽  
Hazard Assessment ◽  
Seismic Hazard Assessment ◽  
Historical Earthquakes ◽  
Macroseismic Data ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Systematic Collection ◽  
Made In

Studies of historical earthquakes in Switzerland are contained in monographs, chronological collections of effects and parametric catalogues. The systematic collection of macroseismic material started with the creation of the Swiss Seismological Commission in 1878. All parametric catalogues since 1975 have been prepared for seismic hazard assessment. The most up-to-date investigation of macroseismic data and compilation into a catalogue (ECOS) was made in the 2002 in context of the re-assessment of seismic hazard for nuclear sites.

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