scholarly journals Raspberry Shake Instruments Provide Initial Ground-Motion Assessment of the Induced Seismicity at the United Downs Deep Geothermal Power Project in Cornwall, United Kingdom

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-34
Author(s):  
Joanna M. Holmgren ◽  
Maximilian J. Werner
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Ground Motion ◽  
Induced Seismicity ◽  
Ground Motions ◽  
Peak Ground Velocity ◽  
Preliminary Evaluation ◽  
British Geological Survey ◽  
Ground Acceleration ◽  
Geothermal Power ◽  
Motion Assessment

Abstract Raspberry Shake (RS) seismographs offer the potential for affordable and citizen-led seismic monitoring in areas with few publicly available seismometers, especially in previously quiescent regions experiencing induced seismicity. However, their scientific and regulatory potential remains largely untested. We examine the ground motions recorded by 11 RS and one broadband station within 15 km of the United Downs Deep Geothermal Power (UDDGP) project in Cornwall, United Kingdom, to evaluate the RS network’s suitability to provide an initial ground-motion assessment of the region. To date, the British Geological Survey (BGS) has reported 232 induced events originating at UDDGP since flow testing began in summer 2020, with two events exceeding local magnitude (ML) 1.5. Although the RS accelerometers are too noisy for UDDGP’s microseismic events, the vertical geophones are useful. Peak ground velocity observations are consistent with relevant ground-motion models, whereas peak ground acceleration (PGA) values are greater than predicted. Regional trends in the PGA levels are likely caused by path effects. Finally, RS estimates of ML are similar to those reported by the BGS. For sparse national seismic networks, RS stations can enable a preliminary evaluation of seismic events and their ground motions.

scholarly journals Characteristics of strong ground motion attenuation in the 2019 Mw 5.8 Changning earthquake, Sichuan, China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. Hu ◽  
H. Zhang ◽  
J. B. Zhu ◽  
G. H. Liu
Keyword(s):  
Ground Motion ◽  
Ground Motions ◽  
Response Spectra ◽  
Peak Ground Velocity ◽  
Arias Intensity ◽  
Ground Acceleration ◽  
Motion Models ◽  
Ground Motion Attenuation ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Strong Ground

AbstractA moderate magnitude earthquake with Mw 5.8 occurred on June 17, 2019, in Changning County, Sichuan Province, China, causing 13 deaths, 226 injuries, and serious engineering damage. This earthquake induced heavier damage than earthquakes of similar magnitude. To explain this phenomenon in terms of ground motion characteristics, based on 58 sets of strong ground motions in this earthquake, the peak ground acceleration (PGA), peak ground velocity (PGV), acceleration response spectra (Sa), duration, and Arias intensity are analyzed. The results show that the PGA, PGV, and Sa are larger than the predicted values from some global ground motion models. The between-event residuals reveal that the source effects on the intermediate-period and long-period ground motions are stronger than those on short-period ground motions. Comparison of Arias intensity attenuation with the global models indicates that the energy of ground motions of the Changning earthquake is larger than those of earthquakes with the same magnitude.

scholarly journals Seismic Hazard and Risk Due to Induced Earthquakes at a Shale Gas Site

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Edwards ◽  
Helen Crowley ◽  
Rui Pinho ◽  
Julian J. Bommer
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Ground Motion ◽  
Shale Gas ◽  
Structural Damage ◽  
Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis ◽  
Peak Ground Velocity ◽  
Seismic Risk Analysis ◽  
British Geological Survey ◽  
Waveform Data ◽  
Macroseismic Intensities

ABSTRACT Hydraulic fracturing of the first shale gas well at Preston New Road (PNR), Blackpool, United Kingdom, in late 2018, marked the end of a 7 yr United Kingdom-wide moratorium on fracking. Despite a strict traffic-light system being in place, seismic events up to ML 2.9 were induced. The ML 2.9 event was accompanied by reports of damage and was assigned European Macroseismic Scale 1998 (EMS-98) intensity VI by the British Geological Survey. The moratorium was subsequently reinstated in late 2019. The study here presents a pseudo-probabilistic seismic risk analysis and is applied to the larger of the induced events at PNR, in addition to hypothetical larger events. Initially, site characterization analysis is undertaken using direct and indirect methods. These analyses show low-velocity deposits dominate the region (VS30‾=227  m/s). We test existing ground-motion prediction equations using spatially dependent VS30 to determine applicability to the recorded waveform data and produce a referenced empirical model. Predicting median and 84th percentile peak ground velocity fields, we subsequently determine macroseismic intensities. Epicentral intensities of IV, IV–V, and VI–VII are predicted for the observed ML 2.9, and hypothetical ML 3.5 and 4.5 scenarios, respectively. A probabilistic analysis of damage is performed for 3500 ground-motion realizations (2.1≤ML≤4.5) using the OpenQuake-engine, with nonlinear dynamic analysis undertaken to define building fragility. Based on these analyses, the onset of cosmetic damage (DS1) in terms of median risk is observed for the ML 2.9 event. Mean modeled occurrences of DS1 and DS2 (minor structural damage), 75 and 10 instances, respectively, are consistent with reported damage (DS1:97, DS2:50). Significant occurrences (median≥30 buildings) of DS2, DS3, and DS4 (minor to major structural damage) are likely for ML 3.5, 4.0, and 4.5 events, respectively. However, by comparing reported damage with modeled damage due to the ML 2.9 event and considering the fact that low macroseismic intensities (EMS-98 <4) are often not reported by the public, we conclude that the previously assigned intensity of VI is too high, with V being more appropriate.

A Far-Field Ground-Motion Model for the North Australian Craton from Plate-Margin Earthquakes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trevor I. Allen
Keyword(s):  
Ground Motion ◽  
Ground Motions ◽  
Peak Ground Velocity ◽  
Far Field ◽  
Motion Model ◽  
Ground Acceleration ◽  
Depth Dependence ◽  
Ground Motion Model ◽  
Plate Margin ◽  
Short Period

ABSTRACT The Australian territory is just over 400 km from an active convergent plate margin with the collision of the Sunda–Banda Arc with the Precambrian and Palaeozoic Australian continental crust. Seismic energy from earthquakes in the northern Australian plate-margin region are channeled efficiently through the low-attenuation North Australian craton (NAC), with moderate-sized (Mw≥5.0) earthquakes in the Banda Sea commonly felt in northern Australia. A far-field ground-motion model (GMM) has been developed for use in seismic hazard studies for sites located within the NAC. The model is applicable for hypocentral distances of approximately 500–1500 km and magnitudes up to Mw 8.0. The GMM provides coefficients for peak ground acceleration, peak ground velocity, and 5%-damped pseudospectral acceleration at 20 oscillator periods from 0.1 to 10 s. A strong hypocentral depth dependence is observed in empirical data, with earthquakes occurring at depths of 100–200 km demonstrating larger amplitudes for short-period ground motions than events with shallower hypocenters. The depth dependence of ground motion diminishes with longer spectral periods, suggesting that the relatively larger ground motions for deeper earthquake hypocenters may be due to more compact ruptures producing higher stress drops at depth. Compared with the mean Next Generation Attenuation-East GMM developed for the central and eastern United States (which is applicable for a similar distance range), the NAC GMM demonstrates significantly higher short-period ground motion for Banda Sea events, transitioning to lower relative accelerations for longer period ground motions.

The ShakeOut Earthquake Source and Ground Motion Simulations

2011 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 273-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert W. Graves ◽  
Brad T. Aagaard ◽  
Kenneth W. Hudnut
Keyword(s):  
Ground Motion ◽  
Ground Motions ◽  
Strong Motion ◽  
Peak Ground Velocity ◽  
Motion Modeling ◽  
Ground Acceleration ◽  
San Andreas ◽  
Basin Effects ◽  
Simulated Ground Motions ◽  
D Model

The ShakeOut Scenario is premised upon the detailed description of a hypothetical Mw 7.8 earthquake on the southern San Andreas Fault and the associated simulated ground motions. The main features of the scenario, such as its endpoints, magnitude, and gross slip distribution, were defined through expert opinion and incorporated information from many previous studies. Slip at smaller length scales, rupture speed, and rise time were constrained using empirical relationships and experience gained from previous strong-motion modeling. Using this rupture description and a 3-D model of the crust, broadband ground motions were computed over a large region of Southern California. The largest simulated peak ground acceleration (PGA) and peak ground velocity (PGV) generally range from 0.5 to 1.0 g and 100 to 250 cm/s, respectively, with the waveforms exhibiting strong directivity and basin effects. Use of a slip-predictable model results in a high static stress drop event and produces ground motions somewhat higher than median level predictions from NGA ground motion prediction equations (GMPEs).

Raspberry Shakes provide initial ground motion assessment of the geothermally induced seismicity at United Downs in Cornwall, UK

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Holmgren ◽  
Maximilian Werner
Keyword(s):  
Ground Motion ◽  
Seismic Station ◽  
Ground Motions ◽  
Peak Ground Velocity ◽  
Geothermal System ◽  
Ground Acceleration ◽  
High Background ◽  
Public Data ◽  
Local Geology ◽  
Seismic Networks

<p>The United Downs enhanced geothermal system in Cornwall, UK, has induced several microseismic events since flow testing began in August 2020, targeting a granitic intrusion at 5 km depth. As of January 2021, two events exceeding local magnitudes (M<sub>L</sub>) 1.5 have occurred, highlighting the associated seismic hazard and providing initial data for a preliminary assessment of the region’s ground motion response. However, with only one national seismic station publicly available within 90 km of the site, public data are scarce. In an effort to involve the surrounding communities in the geothermal project, United Downs provided Raspberry Shake 1D or 4D (one vertical geophone, with 4D containing an additional three accelerometers) seismographs to nearby schools, increasing the number of publicly available seismic stations to ten within 15 km of the site. In this study, we assess the ground motions recorded by the Raspberry Shake stations and evaluate their utility for probing ground motions models (GMMs) and the effects of the local geology.</p><p>171 earthquakes between M<sub>L</sub> -1.3 to 1.7 originating at United Downs have been recorded to date, with 37 events above M<sub>L</sub> 0.0. Unfortunately, the accelerometer components of the Raspberry Shake instruments contained too high background noise levels to be useable, leaving only the vertical geophone component to be analysed for each of the instruments. We find that while the peak ground velocity (PGV) values are in line with those predicted from the Douglas et al. (2013) geothermal GMM, the area experiences higher peak ground acceleration (PGA) than expected. We also find that the observed PGVs and PGAs match the region’s geological features, consisting of a combination of igneous intrusions and sedimentary sandstones and mudstones. For sparse national seismic networks, Raspberry Shake stations can provide a quick initial evaluation of seismic events and their ground motions before industry releases private data for more detailed analyses.</p>

Site effects of the Denis-Perron dam (SM-3): A case study in Eastern North America

2021 ◽  
pp. 875529302110194
Author(s):  
Daniel Verret ◽  
Denis LeBœuf ◽  
Éric Péloquin
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Ground Motion ◽  
Site Effects ◽  
Transfer Functions ◽  
Ground Motions ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Eastern North America ◽  
Ground Acceleration ◽  
Large Dams ◽  
Moderate Seismicity

Eastern North America (ENA) is part of a region with low-to-moderate seismicity; nonetheless, some significant seismic events have occurred in the last few decades. Recent events have reemphasized the need to review ENA seismicity and ground motion models, along with continually reevaluating and updating procedures related to the seismic safety assessment of hydroelectric infrastructures, particularly large dams in Québec. Furthermore, recent researchers have shown that site-specific characteristics, topography, and valley shapes may significantly aggravate the severity of ground motions. To the best of our knowledge, very few instrumental data from actual earthquakes have been published for examining the site effects of hydroelectric dam structures located in eastern Canada. This article presents an analysis of three small earthquakes that occurred in 1999 and 2002 at the Denis-Perron (SM-3) dam. This dam, the highest in Québec, is a rockfill embankment structure with a height of 171 m and a length of 378 m; it is located in a narrow valley. The ground motion datasets of these earthquakes include the bedrock and dam crest three-component accelerometer recordings. Ground motions are analyzed both in the time and frequency domains. The spectral ratios and transfer functions obtained from these small earthquakes provide new insights into the directionality of resonant frequencies, vibration modes, and site effects for the Denis-Perron dam. The crest amplifications observed for this dam are also compared with previously published data for large dams. New statistical relationships are proposed to establish dam crest amplification on the basis of the peak ground acceleration (PGA) at the foundation.

scholarly journals Attenuation relationships of peak ground motions in the Jazan Region

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali K. Abdelfattah ◽  
Abdullah Al-amri ◽  
Kamal Abdelrahman ◽  
Muhamed Fnais ◽  
Saleh Qaysi
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Ground Motions ◽  
Prediction Equation ◽  
Peak Ground Velocity ◽  
Local Magnitude ◽  
Ground Acceleration ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Hypocentral Distance ◽  
Distance Range ◽  
Attenuation Relationships

AbstractIn this study, attenuation relationships are proposed to more accurately predict ground motions in the southernmost part of the Arabian Shield in the Jazan Region of Saudi Arabia. A data set composed of 72 earthquakes, with normal to strike-slip focal mechanisms over a local magnitude range of 2.0–5.1 and a distance range of 5–200 km, was used to investigate the predictive attenuation relationship of the peak ground motion as a function of the hypocentral distance and local magnitude. To obtain the space parameters of the empirical relationships, non-linear regression was performed over a hypocentral distance range of 4–200 km. The means of 638 peak ground acceleration (PGA) and peak ground velocity (PGV) values calculated from the records of the horizontal components were used to derive the predictive relationships of the earthquake ground motions. The relationships accounted for the site-correlation coefficient but not for the earthquake source implications. The derived predictive attenuation relationships for PGV and PGA are$$ {\log}_{10}(PGV)=-1.05+0.65\cdotp {M}_L-0.66\cdotp {\log}_{10}(r)-0.04\cdotp r, $$ log 10 PGV = − 1.05 + 0.65 · M L − 0.66 · log 10 r − 0.04 · r , $$ {\log}_{10}(PGA)=-1.36+0.85\cdotp {M}_L-0.85\cdotp {\log}_{10}(r)-0.005\cdotp r, $$ log 10 PGA = − 1.36 + 0.85 · M L − 0.85 · log 10 r − 0.005 · r , respectively. These new relationships were compared to the grand-motion prediction equation published for western Saudi Arabia and indicate good agreement with the only data set of observed ground motions available for an ML 4.9 earthquake that occurred in 2014 in southwestern Saudi Arabia, implying that the developed relationship can be used to generate earthquake shaking maps within a few minutes of the event based on prior information on magnitudes and hypocentral distances taking into considerations the local site characteristics.

scholarly journals Seismic Hazard Assessment for the Tianshui Urban Area, Gansu Province, China

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenming Wang ◽  
David T. Butler ◽  
Edward W. Woolery ◽  
Lanmin Wang
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Hazard ◽  
Ground Motion ◽  
Seismic Design ◽  
Hazard Analysis ◽  
Seismic Hazard Assessment ◽  
Gansu Province ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Peak Ground Velocity ◽  
Ground Acceleration ◽  
Acceleration Time Histories

A scenario seismic hazard analysis was performed for the city of Tianshui. The scenario hazard analysis utilized the best available geologic and seismological information as well as composite source model (i.e., ground motion simulation) to derive ground motion hazards in terms of acceleration time histories, peak values (e.g., peak ground acceleration and peak ground velocity), and response spectra. This study confirms that Tianshui is facing significant seismic hazard, and certain mitigation measures, such as better seismic design for buildings and other structures, should be developed and implemented. This study shows that PGA of 0.3 g (equivalent to Chinese intensity VIII) should be considered for seismic design of general building and PGA of 0.4 g (equivalent to Chinese intensity IX) for seismic design of critical facility in Tianshui.

scholarly journals The 30 October 2020 Samos (Eastern Aegean Sea) Earthquake: effects of source rupture, path and local-site conditions on the observed and simulated ground motions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aybige Akinci ◽  
Daniele Cheloni ◽  
AHMET ANIL DINDAR
Keyword(s):  
Ground Motion ◽  
Structural Damage ◽  
Ground Motions ◽  
Aegean Sea ◽  
Peak Ground Velocity ◽  
Ground Shaking ◽  
Local Site ◽  
Eastern Aegean ◽  
Motion Characteristics ◽  
Eastern Aegean Sea

Abstract On 30 October 2020 a MW 7.0 earthquake occurred in the eastern Aegean Sea, between the Greek island of Samos and Turkey’s Aegean coast, causing considerable seismic damage and deaths, especially in the Turkish city of Izmir, approximately 70 km from the epicenter. In this study, we provide a detailed description of the Samos earthquake, starting from the fault rupture to the ground motion characteristics. We first use Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) and Global Positioning System (GPS) data to constrain the source mechanisms. Then, we utilize this information to analyze the ground motion characteristics of the mainshock in terms of peak ground acceleration (PGA), peak ground velocity (PGV), and spectral pseudo-accelerations. Modelling of geodetic data shows that the Samos earthquake ruptured a NNE-dipping normal fault located offshore north of Samos, with up to 2.5-3 m of slip and an estimated geodetic moment of 3.3 ⨯ 1019 Nm (MW 7.0). Although low PGA were induced by the earthquake, the ground shaking was strongly amplified in Izmir throughout the alluvial sediments. Structural damage observed in Izmir reveals the potential of seismic risk due to the local site effects. To better understand the earthquake characteristics, we generated and compared stochastic strong ground motions with the observed ground motion parameters as well as the ground motion prediction equations (GMPEs), exploring also the efficacy of the region-specific parameters which may be improved to better predict the expected ground shaking from future large earthquakes in the region.

Deterministic 3D Ground-Motion Simulations (0–5 Hz) and Surface Topography Effects of the 30 October 2016 Mw 6.5 Norcia, Italy, Earthquake

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arben Pitarka ◽  
Aybige Akinci ◽  
Pasquale De Gori ◽  
Mauro Buttinelli
Keyword(s):  
Surface Topography ◽  
Ground Motion ◽  
Seismic Station ◽  
Ground Motions ◽  
Peak Ground Velocity ◽  
Earth Model ◽  
Rupture Directivity ◽  
Epicentral Area ◽  
Near Fault ◽  
Local Topography

ABSTRACT The Mw 6.5 Norcia, Italy, earthquake occurred on 30 October 2016 and caused extensive damage to buildings in the epicentral area. The earthquake was recorded by a network of strong-motion stations, including 14 stations located within a 5 km distance from the two causative faults. We used a numerical approach for generating seismic waves from two hybrid deterministic and stochastic kinematic fault rupture models propagating through a 3D Earth model derived from seismic tomography and local geology. The broadband simulations were performed in the 0–5 Hz frequency range using a physics-based deterministic approach modeling the earthquake rupture and elastic wave propagation. We used SW4, a finite-difference code that uses a conforming curvilinear mesh, designed to model surface topography with high numerical accuracy. The simulations reproduce the amplitude and duration of observed near-fault ground motions. Our results also suggest that due to the local fault-slip pattern and upward rupture directivity, the spatial pattern of the horizontal near-fault ground motion generated during the earthquake was complex and characterized by several local minima and maxima. Some of these local ground-motion maxima in the near-fault region were not observed because of the sparse station coverage. The simulated peak ground velocity (PGV) is higher than both the recorded PGV and predicted PGV based on empirical models for several areas located above the fault planes. Ground motions calculated with and without surface topography indicate that, on average, the local topography amplifies the ground-motion velocity by 30%. There is correlation between the PGV and local topography, with the PGV being higher at hilltops. In contrast, spatial variations of simulated PGA do not correlate with the surface topography. Simulated ground motions are important for seismic hazard and engineering assessments for areas that lack seismic station coverage and historical recordings from large damaging earthquakes.

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