Strong motion seismograph networks in Canada

Abstract

Strong motion monitoring in Canada has undergone significant changes in recent years. Most analogue, non-communicating instruments have been replaced with modern digital instruments that provide information in real-time. Dense networks are being deployed in the urban centres of southwest British Columbia to provide shaking parameters and "shake maps" immediately after an earthquake. Monitoring of critical infrastructure, including bridges, dam sites and transmission facilities is increasing. This article documents the current state of strong motion monitoring across Canada, and summarises the data sets that are currently available. As of 2007, the Geological Survey of Canada operates 97 strong motion instruments (all Internet Acclerometers or IA's) in western Canada, most of which are deployed in the urban centres of high seismic hazard in southwest British Columbia. BC Hydro has 39 strong motion instruments at dam sites across BC. More than half of these are analogue SMA-1's, and are scheduled to be replaced by digital instruments within 2-3 years. BC Transmission Corporation owns 23 instruments (SSA-2's and ETNA's) installed at major substations and terminal stations across southwest BC. Other strong motion instruments in western Canada are owned by utilities or transportation organisations (BC Ministry of Transportation (MoT) has deployed 17 instruments to monitor lifeline bridges and a tunnel). In eastern Canada, the GSC operates a network of 26 strong motion instruments in the active Charlevoix zone, and 11 instruments in greater Ottawa. Hydro-Québec operates instruments at 12 dams and substations. Gaz Metropolitain operates an instrument at its Montreal LNG plant and New Brunswick Power operates an instrument at the Point Lepreau nuclear station. During the past six years, nearly 700 accelerograms have been recorded across Canada. Most of the records represent weak motion (PGA less than 5%g), nonetheless, they are useful for evaluating local site response, which in turn may be valuable to engineers evaluating strong ground shaking during future earthquakes.

Numerical modelling of seismic wave propagation through a soft-sediment filled basin near Kinburn, ON.

“…This region has roughly 4000 earthquake epicentres located within its borders which have been used for the fifth generation of seismic hazard maps of Canada (Halchuk et al, 2015). The recording stations in the area are part of either the Southern Ontario Seismograph Network (SOSN) or the Canadian National Seismic Network (CNSN) and provide good coverage of Eastern Canada (Cassidy et al, 2007;. The stations have been recording earthquakes for various amounts of time.…”