Abstract
Intensity attenuation is relatively little studied compared with the attenuation of peak ground acceleration, due to the fact that the PGA can be used for engineering design, while intensity cannot. However, intensity has other uses, including the estimation of effects (including damage) of future earthquakes, and hence, at least in a general way, the study of earthquake risk. Knowledge of intensity attenuation is also useful in calibrating hazard models against historical experience. In this study, the attenuation of intensity in the U.K. is thoroughly evaluated from a data set comprising 727 isoseismals from 326 British earthquakes, including both modern and historical events. Best results are obtained by restricting the data set to events contributing at least two isoseismals. The preferred equation is
where I is intensity (European Macroseismic Scale), ML is local magnitude, and R is hypocentral distance. The sigma (uncertainty) value is 0.46. Some sample applications of this formula are demonstrated.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Abrahamson, N.A. and Youngs, R.R., 1992, A stable algorithm for regression analysis using the random effects model, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. 82, 505–510.
Abrahamson, N.A. and Shedlock, K.M., 1997, Overview, Seis. Res. Lett. 68, 9–23.
Ad-hoc Panel, 1981, Report on the ad-hoc panel meeting of experts on up-dating of the MSK-64 intensity scale, March 10–14, 1980, Gerl. Beitr. Geophys. 90, 261–268.
Ambraseys, N.N., 2001, Reassessment of earthquakes, 1990–1999, in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, Geophys. J. Int. 145, 471–485.
Ambraseys, N.N. and Jackson, J.A., 1985, Long term seismicity of Britain. In: Earthquake Engineering in Britain, Thomas Telford, London, pp. 49–66.
Atkinson, G.M. and Boore, D.M., 1997, Some comparisons between recent ground-motion relations, Seis. Res. Lett. 68, 24–40.
Atkinson, G.M. and Boore, D.M., 2003, Empirical ground-motion relations for subduction zone earthquakes and their application to Cascadia and other regions, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. 93, 1703–1729.
Azzaro, R., Barbano, M.S., Moroni, A., Mucciarelli, M. and Stucchi, M., 1999, The seismic history of Catania, J. Seis. 3, 235–252.
Bommer, J.J., 2002, Deterministic vs. probabilistic seismic hazard assessment: An exaggerated and obstructive dichotomy, J. Earthquake Eng. 6, 43–74.
Brillinger, D.R. and Preisler, H.K., 1984, An exploratory analysis of the Joyner-Boore attenuation data, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. 74, 1441–1450.
Brillinger, D.R. and Preisler, H.K., 1985, Further analysis of the Joyner-Boore attenuation data, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. 75, 611–614.
Burton, P.W., Musson, R.M.W. and Neilson, G., 1984, Studies of historical British earthquakes, BGS Global Seismology Report No. 237.
Cecić, I. (ed.), 1992, Proceedings of the 2nd AB Workshop on Macroseismic Methods, Poljce, Yugoslavia, October 15–18, 1990, Seismological Survey of Slovenia, Ljubljana.
Free, M.W., Ambraseys, N.N. and Sarma, S.K., 1998, Earthquake ground-motion attenuation relations for stable continental intraplate regions, ESEE Report No. 98-1.
Fukushima, Y., 1996, Scaling relations for strong ground motion prediction models with M2 terms, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. 86, 329–336.
Fukushima, Y. and Tanaka, T., 1990, A new attenuation relation for peak horizontal acceleration of strong earthquake ground motions in Japan, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. 80, 757–783.
Grünthal, G. (ed.), 1998, European Macroseismic Scale 1998, Cahiers du Centre Europèen de Gèodynamique et de Seismologie, 15, Conseil de l’Europe, Luxembourg.
Grünthal, G. and Wahlström, R., 2003, An Mw based earthquake catalogue for central, northern and northwestern Europe using a hierarchy of magnitude conversions, J. Seism. 7, 507–531.
Joyner, W.B. and Boore, D.M., 1981, Peak horizontal acceleration and velocity from strong-motion records including records from the 1979 Imperial Valley, California earthquake, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. 71, 2011–2038.
Karník, V., 1969, Seismicity of the European Area, Reidel, Doredrecht.
Kövesligethy, R. de, 1906, A makroszeizmikus rengések feldolgozása, Math. és Természettudományi Értesítõ 24, 349–368.
Marrow, P.C., 1992, U.K. earthquake magnitudes: A comparison of methods and published results, BGS Global Seismology Report No. WL/92/36.
Mucciarelli, M., Peruzza, L. and Caroli, P., 2000, Tuning of seismic hazard estimates by means of observed site intensities, J. Earthquake Eng. 4, 141–159.
Murphy, J.R. and O’Brien, L.J., 1977, The correlation of peak ground acceleration amplitude with seismic intensity and other physical parameters, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. 67, 877–915.
Musson, R.M.W., 1990, Report on the first workshop on the updating of the MSK-81 intensity scale, Zurich, June 7–8, 1990, BGS Seismology Report No. WL/90/27.
Musson, R.M.W., 1994, A catalogue of British earthquakes, BGS Global Seismology Report No. WL/94/04.
Musson, R.M.W., 1996, Determination of parameters for historical British earthquakes, Annali di Geofisica 39, 1041–1048.
Musson, R.M.W., 2000, An illustrative seismic hazard and risk case: Nagoya, Japan, BGS Technical Report No. IR/00/15.
Musson, R.M.W., 2002, Intensity and intensity scales. In: Bormann, P. (ed.), New Manual of Seismological Observatory Practice (NMSOP), GFZ, Potsdam.
Musson, R.M.W. and Winter, P.W., 1996, Seismic hazard of the U.K., AEA Technology Report No. AEA/CS/16422000/ZJ745/005.
Musson, R.M.W. and Cecić, I., 2002, Macroseismology. In: Lee, W.H.K., Kanamori, H., Jennings, P.C. and Kisslinger, C. (eds.), International Handbook of Earthquake and Engineering Seismology, Academic Press, San Diego.
Neilson, G. and Burton, P.W., 1988, Instrumental magnitudes of British earthquakes: Offshore and European earthquakes felt in Britain during the 20th century, BGS Global Seismology Report No. WL/88/23.
Richter, C.F., 1958, Elementary Seismology, W. H. Freeman, San Francisco.
Soil Mechanics Ltd., 1982, Reassessment of U.K. Seismicity Data, SML, Bracknell.
Sponheuer, W., 1960, Methoden zur Herdtiefenbestimmung in der Makroseismik, Freiberger Forschungshefte C88, Akademie Verlag, Berlin.
Spudich, P., Joyner, W.B., Lindh, A.G., Boore, D.M., Margaris, B.M. and Fletcher, J.B., 1999, SEA99: A revised ground motion prediction relation for use in extensional tectonic regimes, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. 89, 1156–1170.
Tyrell, G.W., 1931, Recent Scottish earthquakes, Trans. Geol. Soc. Glas. 19, 4–41.
Walker, A.B., Baptie, B. and Ottemöller, L., 2003, U.K. earthquake monitoring 2002/2003: BGS Seismic Monitoring and Information Service Fourteenth Annual Report, BGS Technical Report No. IR/03/67.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Musson, R.M.W. Intensity attenuation in the U.K.. J Seismol 9, 73–86 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10950-005-2979-4
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10950-005-2979-4