Earthquake Hazard and the Environmental Seismic Intensity (ESI) Scale

Serva, Leonello; Vittori, E.; Comerci, Valerio; Esposito, E.; Guerrieri, Luca; Michetti, Alessandro Maria; Mohammadioun, B.; Mohammadioun, G.; Porfido, Sabina; Tatevossian, R. E.

doi:10.1007/s00024-015-1177-8

Cited by 75 publications

(70 citation statements)

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“…(iv) Incoherent and anomalous primary surface ruptures can not only be hard to detect, but may also cause problems when it comes to applying the empirical relationships. For example, the 1992 M S 7.3 Suusamyr Earthquake, Kyrgyzstan, broke the surface in two short sets of primary ruptures with a 25 km gap in between [6,7].One approach to overcome the problem of estimating paleo-earthquake magnitudes based solely on primary surface ruptures is the application of the Environmental Seismic Intensity Scale, ESI2007 [8][9][10]. In contrast to classical intensity scales, such as MSK (Medvedev-Sponheuer-Karnik) or MM (Modified Mercalli), the ESI2007 only uses effects on the environment to assign earthquake intensities.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…One approach to overcome the problem of estimating paleo-earthquake magnitudes based solely on primary surface ruptures is the application of the Environmental Seismic Intensity Scale, ESI2007 [8][9][10]. In contrast to classical intensity scales, such as MSK (Medvedev-Sponheuer-Karnik) or MM (Modified Mercalli), the ESI2007 only uses effects on the environment to assign earthquake intensities.…”

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Earthquake Environmental Effects of the 1992 MS7.3 Suusamyr Earthquake, Kyrgyzstan, and Their Implications for Paleo-Earthquake Studies

et al. 2019

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Large pre-historical earthquakes leave traces in the geological and geomorphological record, such as primary and secondary surface ruptures and mass movements, which are the only means to estimate their magnitudes. These environmental earthquake effects (EEEs) can be calibrated using recent seismic events and the Environmental Seismic Intensity Scale (ESI2007). We apply the ESI2007 scale to the 1992 M S 7.3 Suusamyr Earthquake in the Kyrgyz Tien Shan, because similar studies are sparse in that area and geological setting, and because this earthquake was very peculiar in its primary surface rupture pattern. We analyze literature data on primary and secondary earthquake effects and add our own observations from fieldwork. We show that the ESI2007 distribution differs somewhat from traditional intensity assessments (MSK (Medvedev-Sponheuer-Karnik) and MM (Modified Mercalli)), because of the sparse population in the epicentral area and the spatial distribution of primary and secondary EEEs. However, the ESI2007 scale captures a similar overall pattern of the intensity distribution. We then explore how uncertainties in the identification of primary surface ruptures influence the results of the ESI2007 assignment. Our results highlight the applicability of the ESI2007 scale, even in earthquakes with complex and unusual primary surface rupture patterns.Geosciences 2019, 9, 271 2 of 17 may not be interpreted as a single earthquake. For example, the 2016 Kaikoura Earthquake in New Zealand with a magnitude of M W 7.8 ruptured at least twelve major crustal faults and produced highly variable primary surface ruptures [5]. It is unlikely that such complexity can be understood with paleoseismological methods, and the magnitude of the paleo-earthquake will probably be under-estimated. (iv) Incoherent and anomalous primary surface ruptures can not only be hard to detect, but may also cause problems when it comes to applying the empirical relationships. For example, the 1992 M S 7.3 Suusamyr Earthquake, Kyrgyzstan, broke the surface in two short sets of primary ruptures with a 25 km gap in between [6,7].One approach to overcome the problem of estimating paleo-earthquake magnitudes based solely on primary surface ruptures is the application of the Environmental Seismic Intensity Scale, ESI2007 [8][9][10]. In contrast to classical intensity scales, such as MSK (Medvedev-Sponheuer-Karnik) or MM (Modified Mercalli), the ESI2007 only uses effects on the environment to assign earthquake intensities. It, therefore, avoids the influence of building styles and the problem of saturation at high intensities, and allows applying the scale to paleo-earthquakes. The conversion of ESI2007 intensities to magnitudes, however, can only be based on a large set of modern case studies, which are currently being collected in the Earthquake Environmental Effects (EEE) catalogue hosted by ISPRA [11]. Preferably, this set of case studies should include earthquakes with different mechanisms, magnitudes, depths, tectonic and geological settings, distribute...

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Earthquake Environmental Effects of the 1992 MS7.3 Suusamyr Earthquake, Kyrgyzstan, and Their Implications for Paleo-Earthquake Studies

et al. 2019

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“…The main advantage of the ESI-07 scale is the classification, quantification and measurement of several known geological, hydrological, geomorphologic and botanical features that are associated with each intensity degree. This scale has been tested worldwide, in the case of several modern, historical earthquakes and paleoearthquakes (Silva et al 2008;Reicherter et al 2009;Lekkas 2010;Papanikolaou 2011;Giles 2013;Porfido et al 2015a, b;Serva et al 2015;Heddar et al 2016;Quigley et al 2016;Sanchez and Maldonado 2016).…”

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The environmental effects of the 1743 Salento earthquake (Apulia, southern Italy): a contribution to seismic hazard assessment of the Salento Peninsula

et al. 2016

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“…This crustal deformation, together with the VGM generated by the earthquake, produces significant effects on the ground. These effects are catalogued in the Earthquake Environmental Effects (EEE) Global Catalogue of Earthquake Environmental Effects (www.eeecatalog.sinanet.apat.it), which supports the definition of the Environmental Seismic Intensity Scale (i.e., ESI 2007 scale; Serva et al, 2016).…”

Section: Shortcomings With the Database For Probabilistic Fault Displmentioning

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Earthquake-induced crustal deformation and consequences for fault displacement hazard analysis of nuclear power plants

Gürpinar¹,

Serva²,

Livio

et al. 2017

Nuclear Engineering and Design

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Readily available interferometric data (InSAR) of the coseismic deformation field caused by recent seismic\ud events clearly show that major earthquakes produce crustal deformation over wide areas, possibly resulting\ud in significant stress loading/unloading of the crust. Such stress must be considered in the evaluation\ud of seismic hazards of nuclear power plants (NPP) and, in particular, for the potential of surface slip (i.e.,\ud probabilistic fault displacement hazard analysis - PFDHA) on both primary and distributed faults.\ud In this study, based on the assumption that slip on pre-existing structures can represent the elastic\ud response of compliant fault zones to the permanent co-seismic stress changes induced by other major\ud seismogenic structures, we propose a three-step procedure to address fault displacement issues and consider\ud possible influence of surface faulting/deformation on vibratory ground motion (VGM). This\ud approach includes: (a) data on the presence and characteristics of capable faults, (b) data on recognized\ud and/or modeled co-seismic deformation fields and, where possible, (c) static stress transfer between\ud source and receiving faults of unknown capability.\ud The initial step involves the recognition of the major seismogenic structures nearest to the site and\ud their characterization in terms of maximum expected earthquake and the time frame to be considered\ud for determining their ‘‘capability” (as defined in the International Atomic Energy Agency - IAEA\ud Specific Safety Guide SSG-9). Then a GIS-based buffer approach is applied to identify all the faults near\ud the NPP, possibly influenced by the crustal deformation induced by the major seismogenic structures.\ud Faults inside these areas have to be tested for ‘‘capability” according to the same time window defined\ud for the primary seismogenic structures.\ud If fault capability is confirmed or, eventually, cannot be assessed, the next step is to implement an\ud approach based on the potential to affect the safety of the NPP site in terms of fault geometry, and potential\ud displacement.\ud Finally, in the case where the fault can affect the safety of the site, the third step is the PFDHA or, in\ud other words, the calculation of the annual probability of exceedance of the potential co-seismic fault displacement;\ud this displacement is to be compared with the fault displacement threshold that will impact\ud the safety of the NPP site.\ud We also consider the effect of site vicinity tectonism on site vibratory ground motion and discuss an\ud example in the light of the use of the GMPE

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Earthquake Hazard and the Environmental Seismic Intensity (ESI) Scale

Cited by 75 publications

References 98 publications

Earthquake Environmental Effects of the 1992 MS7.3 Suusamyr Earthquake, Kyrgyzstan, and Their Implications for Paleo-Earthquake Studies

Earthquake Environmental Effects of the 1992 MS7.3 Suusamyr Earthquake, Kyrgyzstan, and Their Implications for Paleo-Earthquake Studies

The environmental effects of the 1743 Salento earthquake (Apulia, southern Italy): a contribution to seismic hazard assessment of the Salento Peninsula

Earthquake-induced crustal deformation and consequences for fault displacement hazard analysis of nuclear power plants

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