Academic literature on the topic 'Macroseismic intensities'

Abstract We show that macroseismic intensities assessed in Italy in the last decade are not homogeneous with those of the previous periods. This is partly related to the recent adoption of the European Macroseismic Scale (EMS) in place of the Mercalli–Cancani–Sieberg (MCS) scale used up to about one decade ago. The underestimation of EMS with respect to MCS is about a half of a degree on average and, even more significant, if the MCS intensities are estimated according to the approach developed for the quick evaluations of damage by macroseismic seismologists of the Italian Department of Civil Protection. We also show the inhomogeneity over time of the average differences between instrumental and macroseismic magnitudes computed from intensity data, indicating an average overestimation of magnitudes of about 0.3 units for the instrumental ones before year 1960 and of about 0.2 units for the macroseismic ones after such date. This is consistent with previous studies that hypothesized the incorrect calibration of mechanical recording seismometers operating in Italy and in the surrounding countries before the introduction of the standard electromagnetic seismometers from the beginning of 1960s. For such reasons, the magnitudes of preinstrumental earthquakes in the Catalogo Parametrico dei Terremoti Italiani seismic catalog, used for the most recent seismic hazard assessment in Italy, might be overestimated, on average, by about 0.1–0.2 magnitude units.

Earthquake magnitude catalogues and peak ground acceleration (PGA) maps for Ecuador may be found in several studies, however, there are rare works on the characterisation of the epicentral macroseismic intensities associated with earthquakes. In view of the concept that macroseismic intensity enables us to categorise the extent and severity of damage to buildings and structures caused by an earthquake, this study aims to compile a macro-seismic intensity-based catalogue of earthquakes in Ecuador, characterise the epicentral macroseismic intensities associated to seismogenic sources and perform a comparison with the National Seismic Hazard Map. This paper is the first that presents a catalogue of earthquakes with macroseismic intensities ≥VII and a series of maps of earthquake epicentres according to intensity, focal depth, data and magnitude of seismic events in Ecuador, based on the study of historical and instrumental records from 1900 to 2021. The obtained data shows that 95% of the territory of Ecuador has a PGA 0.1 g, which corresponds to seismic intensities greater than VII, while regions with seismicityVIII (ag = 0.2 g) constitute 86%, and 3.8% of the territory of Ecuador has very high seismicity (IX), where the PGA exceeds 0.5 g. This information suggests that the normative National Seismic Hazard Map of Ecuador underestimate the hazard mainly in the south-east and in the Central Andes of Ecuador, and require an actualization.

Abstract A large amount of data about earthquake effects, supplied by citizens through a web-based questionnaire, enabled the analysis of the occurrence of many of the effects on humans and objects listed in macroseismic scales descriptions. Regarding the other diagnostic effects (rattling, moving, shifting, falling or overturning depending of the object type of doors, windows, china, glasses, small objects, pictures, vases, books, as well as frightened people and animal behaviour), data from more than 300,000 questionnaires about earthquakes felt in Italy from June 2007 to August 2017, were analysed by stacking them together as a function of hypocentral distance and magnitude. The comparison of the resulting percentages with the intensity prediction equation showed that almost all the chosen effects are good diagnostics for macroseismic intensity evaluation, as their percentages are well differentiated. We did not analyse the oscillations of hanging objects and liquids because the differences in effect attenuations, highlighted by the maps of the occurrence percentage, suggested to not consider them as diagnostic effect. This result allowed us to quantify the occurrence of each diagnostic effect for the intensity degrees from II to VI of the European macroseismic scale for the people who felt the earthquake. The application of the intensity assessment method to internet macroseismic data, based on the specifications herein proposed, should mitigate the problem of “not felt” undersampling in crowdsourced web data.

We develop a unified near-field shaking intensity map for the 25 April 2015 Mw 7.8 Gorkha, Nepal, earthquake by synthesizing intensities derived from macroseismic effects that were determined by independent groups using a variety of approaches. Independent assessments by different groups are generally consistent, with minor differences that are likely due in large part to differences in spatial sampling. Throughout most of the near-field region, European Macroseismic Scale (EMS-98) intensities were generally close to 7 EMS. In the Kathmandu Valley, intensities were somewhat higher (6.5–7.5) along the periphery of the valley and in the adjacent foothills than in the central valley, where they were ≈6. The results are consistent with instrumental intensity values estimated from available data using a published relationship between peak ground acceleration (PGA) and intensity. Using this relationship to convert intensities to PGA, we estimate strong-motion PGA de-amplification factors of ≈0.7 in the central Kathmandu Valley, with amplification of ≈1.6 in adjacent foothills. The results support the conclusion that the Kathmandu Valley experienced a pervasively nonlinear response during the Gorkha main shock.

In this paper we present an updated and homogeneous earthquake dataset for Italy compiled by joining the intensities available in the Italian Macroseismic Database DBMI15 and the peak ground motion (PGM) parameters present in the Engineering Strong-Motion (ESM) accelerometric data bank. The database has been compiled through an extensive procedure of evaluation and revision based on two main steps: 1) the selection of the earthquakes in DBMI15 with homogeneous macroseismic intensities in terms of data sources and 2) the extraction of all the localities reporting intensity data which are located within 3 km from the accelerograph stations that recorded the data. The final dataset includes 519 intensity-PGM data pairs from 65 earthquakes and 227 stations in the time span 1972–2016. The reported intensities are expressed either in the Mercalli-Cancani- Sieberg (MCS) or the European macroseismic (EMS-98) scales. The events are characterized by magnitudes in the range 4.1–6.8 and depths in the range 0–55 km. Here, we illustrate the data collection and the properties of the database in terms of recording, event and station distributions as well as macroseismic intensity points. Furthermore, we discuss the most relevant features of engineering interest showing several statistics with reference to the most significant metadata (such as moment magnitude, several distance metrics, style of faulting etc). The dataset is expected to be useful for benchmarking existing and for developing new ground motion intensity conversion equations offering a common basis, and sparing the time and effort required for assembling to the interested researchers. The dataset is available at https://zenodo.org/record/4623732#.YNX-AZMzbdc.

Earthquake environmental effects (EEEs) were compiled for the earthquakes of 1626, 1759, 1819, and 1904 in the Fennoscandian Peninsula, northern Europe. The principal source of information was the contemporary newspaper press. Macroseismic questionnaires collected in 1759 and 1904 were also consulted. We prepared maps showing newly discovered EEEs together with previously known EEEs and analyzed their spatial distribution. We assigned intensities based on the 2007 Environmental Seismic Intensity (ESI) scale to 27 selected localities and compared them to intensities assigned based on the 1998 European Macroseismic Scale. While the overall agreement between the scales is good, intensities may remain uncertain due to the sparsity of written documentation. The collected data sets are most probably incomplete but still show that EEEs are not unprecedented cases in the target region. The findings include landslides and rockfalls as well as cascade effects with a risk potential and widespread water movements up to long distances. The winter earthquake of 1759 cracked ice over a large area. This investigation demonstrates that the ESI scale also has practical importance for regions with infrequent EEEs.

Two moderate magnitude (Mw = 5.6 and 5.2) earthquakes in Krn Mountains occurred in 1998 and 2004 which had maximum intensity VII-VIII and VI-VII EMS-98, respectively. Comparison of both macroseismic fields showed unexpected differences in the epicentral area which cannot be explained by site effects. Considerably, different distribution of the highest intensities can be noticed with respect to the strike of the seismogenic fault and in some localities even higher intensities have been estimated for the smaller earthquake. Although hypocentres of both earthquakes were only 2 km apart and were located on the same seismogenic Ravne fault, their focal mechanisms showed a slight difference: almost pure dextral strike-slip for the first event and a strike-slip with small reverse component on a steep fault plane for the second one. Seismotectonically the difference is explained as an active growth of the Ravne fault at its NW end. The radiation patterns of both events were studied to explain their possible impact on the observed variations in macroseismic fields and damage distribution. Radiation amplitude lobes were computed for three orthogonal directions: radial P, SV, and SH. The highest intensities of both earthquakes were systematically observed in directions of four (1998) or two (2004) large amplitude lobes in SH component (which corresponds mainly to Love waves), which have significantly different orientation for both events. On the other hand, radial P direction, which is almost purely symmetrical for the strike-slip mechanism of 1998 event, showed for the 2004 event that its small reverse component of movement has resulted in a very pronounced amplitude lobe in SW direction where two settlements are located which expressed higher intensities in the case of the 2004 event with respect to the 1998 one. Although both macroseismic fields are very complex due to influences of multiple earthquakes, retrofitting activity after 1998, site effects, and sparse distribution of settlements, unusual differences in observed intensities can be explained with different radiation patterns.

This investigation examines the contemporary documentation of a sequence of low-magnitude earthquakes at the fringes of the Kingdom of Sweden, today Southeastern Finland, in 1751–1752. A total of 11 pages of original correspondence sent from the target village of Svenskby to the Swedish capital Stockholm are reviewed. Newspaper accounts from Sweden and Russia are included in the analysis, and a timeline of the reporting is constructed. A newly created catalog shows over 30 distinct events between the end of October and December 1751 (Julian calendar). The assignment of macroseismic intensity to the earthquakes is hampered by loud acoustic effects that accompany and/or constitute the observations. Maximum intensities are assessed at IV–V (European Macroseismic Scale 1998), and maximum macroseismic magnitudes in the range of MM1.9–2.4, and were probably observed at short epicentral distances close to the ground surface. Comparisons to macroseismic data related to instrumentally recorded earthquakes in the region support the notion of low magnitudes. The data from 1751 provide an analog to modern macroseismic observations from geothermal stimulation experiments. Such experiments have acted as a spur for considering seismic risk from low-magnitude earthquakes whose consequences have seldom previously been a matter for concern.

Abstract The 2019 Ridgecrest, California, earthquake sequence, including an Mw 6.4 event on 4 July and an Mw 7.1 approximately 34 hr later, was recorded by 15 instruments within 55 km nearest-fault distance. To characterize and explore near-field ground motions from the Mw 6.4 foreshock and Mw 7.1 mainshock, we augment these records with available macroseismic information, including conventional intensities and displaced rocks. We conclude that near-field shaking intensities were generally below modified Mercalli intensity 9, with concentrations of locally high values toward the northern and southern termini of the mainshock rupture. We further show that, relative to near-field ground motions at hard-rock sites, instrumental ground motions at alluvial near-field sites for both the Mw 6.4 foreshock and Mw 7.1 mainshock were depleted in energy at frequencies higher than 2–3 Hz, as expected from ground-motion models. Both the macroseismic and instrumental observations suggest that sediments in the Indian Wells Valley experienced a pervasively nonlinear response, which helps explain why shaking intensities and damage in the closest population center, Ridgecrest, were relatively modest given its proximity to the earthquakes.

2008/2009
È stato affrontato il problema della definizione della pericolosità sismica utilizzando il metodo neo-deterministico (NDSHA), che si basa sul calcolo di sismogrammi sintetici realistici. Considerando modelli strutturali medi e un set di sorgenti distribuite internamente alle zone sismogenetiche, possono essere definite delle mappe di scuotimento al bedrock complementari alla mappa di pericolosità di tipo probabilistico (PSHA) sulla quale è basata la normativa antisismica italiana. L’analisi di stabilità effettuata ha dimostrato che l’informazione disponibile sui terremoti del passato può non essere rappresentativa per i futuri terremoti, anche se si hanno a disposizione cataloghi estesi nel tempo (∼ 1000 anni). Ciò non è sorprendente se si tiene presente la scala dei tempi dei processi geologici, ma tale consapevolezza è spesso ignorata in PSHA. NDSHA permette di superare questo limite mediante l’uso di indicatori indipendenti sul potenziale sismico di un’area (e.g. nodi sismogenetici e faglie attive) che consentono di colmare le lacune nella sismicità osservata. Il confronto tra le mappe di pericolosità PSHA e NDSHA sul territorio italiano ha evidenziato che NDSHA fornisce valori maggiori di PSHA nelle aree caratterizzate da forti terremoti osservati e in corrispondenza dei nodi sismogenetici. I valori massimi di NDSHA sono confrontabili con quelli di PSHA per lunghi periodi di ritorno (T≥2475 anni). D’altro canto, PSHA tende a sovrastimare, rispetto a NDSHA, la pericolosità sismica in aree a bassa sismicità. È quindi auspicabile una revisione della normativa che tenga conto di questi fatti. Gli scenari di scuotimento sono utili sia per la ricostruzione delle caratteristiche di sorgente dei terremoti del passato (es. terremoto del 1117) che per la previsione degli effetti degli eventi futuri. Quest’ultimo aspetto, importante per le azioni di prevenzione della Protezione Civile, è stato sviluppato nell’ambito del progetto ASI-SISMA mediante la generazione di scenari dipendenti dal tempo a diversa scala di dettaglio. L’applicazione della tecnica analitica di calcolo dei sismogrammi sintetici in mezzi anelatici tridimensionali, per la cui è stata messa a punto una subroutine per la gestione automatica dell’input, è stata applicata allo studio di eventi di profondità intermedia, avvenuti in Vrancea (Romania), considerando sia serie temporali registrate (accelerogrammi) che intensità osservate.
The problem of the definition of the neo-deterministic seismic hazard assessment (NDSHA), based on the computation of realistic synthetic seismograms, has been capably addressed. Considering average structural models and a set of sources distributed within the seismogenic zones, ground shaking maps at the bedrock, complementary to the probabilistic seismic hazard (PSHA) map on which the Italian seismic code is based, can be defined. The stability analysis performed showed that the available information from past events may not be well representative of future earthquakes, even if long earthquake catalogues (< 1000 years) are available. This is not surprising if we consider the geological times, but this awareness is often ignored in PSHA. NDSHA can easily overcome this limit since it allows to take into account, in a formally well defined way, not only the observed seismicity but also independent indicators of the seismogenic potential of a given area like the seismogenic nodes and active faulting data. The comparison between PSHA and NDSHA maps over the Italian territory evidenced that NDSHA provides values larger than those given by PSHA in areas where large earthquakes are observed and in areas identified as prone to large earthquakes (i.e. seismogenic nodes). The maximum values of NDSHA are consistent with those of PSHA for long return periods (T≥2475 years). Comparatively smaller values are obtained in low-seismicity areas. Therefore a revision of the code taking into account these facts is desirable. Ground shaking scenarios are useful in order to detect the main characteristics of the past earthquakes (e.g. the 1117 earthquake) and to predict the expected ground shaking associated with future earthquakes. The last aspect, which constitutes a useful tool for the rescue actions of the Civil Protection, has been developed in the framework of the ASI-SISMA Project by means of the generation of multi-scale time-dependent seismic hazard scenarios. The application of the analytical technique for the computation of synthetic seismograms in three-dimensional anelastic models, for which a subroutine for the automatic generation of the input has been developed, has been applied to the study of intermediate-depth Vrancea (Romania) earthquakes, considering both recorded time series (accelerograms) and observed macroseismic intensities.
XXII Ciclo
1982

L'estimation probabiliste de l'aléa sismique est basée sur plusieurs modèles et hypothèses à chaque étape, tels que la caractérisation des sources sismiques, les récurrences en magnitude, et le choix d'équations de prédiction du mouvement du sol. Le résultat final de ces études est la courbe d'aléa qui donne les taux annuels de dépassement pour différentes valeurs d'accélération. Chaque étape du calcul comporte des incertitudes. Comprendre l'impact de ces incertitudes sur le résultat final est délicat. Jusqu'à récemment, peu d'études se sont intéressées à tester le résultat final des calculs d'aléa sismique. Des données accélérométriques ou d'intensités macrosismiques, partiellement dépendantes des calculs d'aléa sismique, peuvent être utilisées, comme l'ont proposé quelques articles récents (Stirling & Gerstenberger 2006, Stirling & Gestenberger 2010, Albarello & D'Amico 2008). Cette étude vise à tester les estimations probabilistes de l'aléa sismique en France (MEDD2002, AFPS2006 et SIGMA2012) et aussi en Turquie (SHARE), en développant une méthode quantitative pour comparer les nombres prédits et observés de sites avec dépassement pendant la durée d'observation. La méthode développée s'appuie sur les travaux de Stirling & Gerstenberger (2010) et Albarello & D'Amico (2008). Les modèles sont évalués pour une large zone géographique en sélectionnant tous les sites et en sommant les durées d'observation à chaque site. L'objectif est de comprendre les possibilités et les limites de cette approche, car les durées d'observations sont courtes par rapport aux périodes de retour pertinentes en génie parasismique. Les résultats montrent que le modèle AFPS2006 est cohérent avec les observations du Réseau Accélérométrique Permanent (RAP) pour les accélérations entre 40 et 100 cm/s2 (temps de retour entre 50 et 200 ans). Le modèle MEDD2002 surestime l'aléa sismique pour un temps de retour de 100 ans. Ces résultats ne peuvent pas être extrapolés aux niveaux d'accélérations plus élevés. Pour des temps de retour plus longs (475 et 975 ans), il n'y a pas d'observation au dessus du seuil d'accélération. A l'heure actuelle en France, il n'est pas possible de tester les estimations probabilistes pour des niveaux d'accélérations utiles au génie parasismique. La méthode proposée a aussi été appliquée en Turquie. Les modèles d'aléa sismique peuvent être testés sur des durées d'observation plus longues et pour des niveaux d'accélération plus élevés qu'en France. Le modèle est testé pour différentes sélections de stations accélérométriques, différentes valeurs de la distance minimum entre stations, et différentes durées totales d'observations. Pour des accélérations entre 0.1 et 0.4 g, le modèle SHARE est cohérent avec les observations pour tous les tests. Pour des seuils plus bas, les résultats varient en fonction des décisions prises. Enfin, les modèles probabilistes d'aléa sismique en France ont été évalués à partir des intensités de la base de données SISFRANCE. Les périodes d'observations complètes sont estimées par une analyse statistique des données (I≥5, MSK). Nous avons sélectionné 25 sites avec des durées d'observations pour I≥5 variant entre 66 et 207 ans, localisés dans les zones les plus actives de France. Pour un temps de retour de 100 ans, le modèle MEDD2002 prédit un nombre de sites avec dépassement plus élevé que le nombre observé. Pour des temps de retour de 475 ans et plus longs, les modèles MEDD2002 et AFPS2006 ne peuvent pas être distingués car ils sont tous les deux compatibles avec les observations. Ces résultats basés sur les données d'intensité doivent être considérés de façon très prudente considérant les incertitudes sur la sélection des sites, sur la détermination des durées d'observations et la complétude, et sur l'équation utilisée pour convertir les intensités en accélérations
PSHA calculations rely on several models and assumptions in its components, such as the characterization of seismic sources, the establishment of recurrence laws in magnitude, and the choice of ground-motion prediction equations. The final output of a PSHA study is the hazard curve that gives annual rates of exceedances of different acceleration levels. All steps of the PSHA calculation bear uncertainties. Understanding the impact of these uncertainties on the final output of the PSHA is not straightforward. Until recently, little attention has been paid to testing the final output of PSHA models against observations. Acceleration datasets and intensity databases, partially independent from the PSHA calculations, can be used, as proposed in a handful of recent papers (Stirling & Gerstenberger 2006, Stirling & Gestenberger 2010, Albarello & D'Amico 2008). This study is aimed at testing PSH models in France (MEDD2002, AFPS2006 and SIGMA2012) and also in Turkey (SHARE), developing a quantitative method for comparing predicted and observed number of sites with exceedance over the lifetime of the network. This method builds on the studies of Stirling & Gerstenberger (2010) and Albarello & D'Amico (2008). All sites are sampled, observation time windows are stacked, and the PSHA is evaluated over a large geographical area at once. The objective is to understand the possibilities and limits of this approach, as observation time windows are short with respect to the return periods of interest in earthquake engineering. Results show that the AFPS2006 PSH model is consistent with the observations of the RAP accelerometric network over the acceleration range 40-100 cm/s2 (or 50-200 years of return periods). The MEDD2002 PSH model over-predicts the observed hazard for the return period of 100 years. For longer return periods (475 and 975 years), the test is not conclusive due to the lack of observations for large accelerations. No conclusion can be drawn for acceleration levels of interest in earthquake engineering. The proposed method is applied to Turkey. The PSH model can be tested using longer observation periods and higher accelerations levels than in France. The PSH model is tested for different selections of accelerometric sites, minimum inter-site distance and total observation period. For accelerations between 0.1 and 0.4g, the model is consistent with the observations for all tests. At lower acceleration levels, the agreement between the model and the observations varies depending on the decisions taken. Finally, the PSHA models in France are evaluated using the macroseismic intensity database (SISFrance). Completeness time windows are estimated from statistics on the intensity data (I≥5, MSK). Twenty-five sites are selected, with completeness time periods for I≥5 extending between 66 and 207 years, located in the highest active zones in France. At 100 years return period, MEDD2002 models predicts more sites with exceedances than the observed number of sites. At return periods higher than or equal to 475 years, both models AFPS2006 cannot be discriminated as both are consistent with observations. Considering the uncertainties on the selection of sites, on the determination of completeness time periods, and on the equation selected for converting intensities into accelerations, the results based on macroseismic intensities should be considered very carefully

From 2017 till 2020 a low cost seismic sensor network was built in the southern Vienna Basin, Lower Austria, as a part of ongoing educational and citizen science projects. The purpose of the project is to inform society about the seismic activity in this area and to include authorities and interested citizens into data acquisition and exploitation. Near real time (NRT) seismic data are made accessible online. Seismic events are detected and archived automatically. The visualization of these events online facilitates instantaneously estimates of the extent of the shaking area and potential damage. Peak ground velocities (PGV) are related to macroseismic intensities (EMS-98) derived from reports about ground motion felt in the vicinity of the network stations. Observed amplitudes and travel times are modeled by simple, but effective relations. Traditional and innovative localization methods based on travel times and amplitudes are applied and analyzed with respect to data quality and localization accuracy. All results are accessible online and the computer code is open and applicable, e.g. for educational purposes.

The November 1st, 1935, Témiscaming earthquake occurred within 20 km of the town of Témiscaming, Quebec. This earthquake was felt west to Fort William (now part of Thunder Bay), Ontario, east to Saint John, New Brunswick, and south to Kentucky and Virginia. Damaged chimneys were reported in Témiscaming, Quebec, and North Bay and Mattawa, Ontario. In the epicentral region, rockfalls were observed as well as cracks in gravel and sand along the shores of islands and lakes. Some 350 km away from the epicentre, near Parent, Quebec, earthquake vibrations triggered a 30 metre slide of railroad embankment. Numerous aftershocks were felt in Témiscaming and Kipawa during the following months, the largest rated as magnitude ML 5.4 (or mN 4.9). For the main shock and its largest aftershock, this Open File Report provides the available macroseismic information interpreted on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale using newspaper accounts as the main source of information for Canada. Macroseismic information from total of 126 localities in Canada and nearly 900 communities in the US (from the NOAA database of intensities) are tabulated in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. When available, newspaper clippings are included, together with some original damage accounts, photographs and scientific reports. The Open File also includes a Google Earth kmz file that allows the felt information reports to be viewed in a spatial tool.