Determining the parameters of earthquake sources in south america from macroseismicintensity data (ceresis database).

In the past decades many different procedures to handle with the historical data for the determination of the earthquake source parameters have been made. This has been only possible dealing with historical data interpreted and compiled as Intensity Data Points (IDP). One of the most interesting tools is the Boxer algorithm, a parameterisation method which computes the parameters of the earthquake source in terms of latitude and longitude of the epicentre, magnitude of the event, length, width and azimuth of the box, which represent the surface projection of the seismogenic source. We have used intensity data points available from the CERESIS database (earthquakes with I0≥8MM) to obtain a preliminary idea of the possible sources of some historical earthquakes of the South-American region. At a first approach to the South American historical seismicity we generally can affirm that our results agree fairly well with seismological data and geological background as reported in literature

The CERESIS earthquake catalogue and database of the Andean Region: background, characteristics and examples of use

The history of earthquakes in South America starts with the coming of the Spanish and Portuguese «conquistadores» at the beginning of the 16th century. Their chronicles, and those of local historians, are the only source of earthquake information for the following 400 years. The creation of the Regional Centre for Seismology for South America (CERESIS) was a major factor for homogenous regional progress, in that CERESIS promoted the implementation of the first unified earthquake catalogue and database for the whole Andean Region. This paper reviews basic information about the intensity database and the focal parameter catalogues proposed by CERESIS in 1985. Further macroseismic data available from the CERESIS database (earthquakes with I0 = 8) are used to obtain preliminary results for the earthquake source parameters of selected South American historical events. The case of the Great Earthquake of the Venezuelan Andes, 29 April 1894, is presented in some detail

Rilievo macrosismico del terremoto del 15 dicembre 2009 nella Valle del Tevere e considerazioni sull'applicazione della scala EMS98

In questo lavoro vengono presentati e discussi i risultati del rilievo macrosismico effettuato in termini di European Macroseismic Scale 1998 del terremoto del 15 dicembre 2009. L’evento, di Ml 4.2, ha colpito la Valle del Tevere tra le province di Terni e Perugia, ed ha avuto una intensità EMS pari al 7 grado. Il rilievo è servito anche come test sull’uso della scala EMS98, non ancora utilizzata sistematicamente per i terremoti italiani, attraverso un’indagine di dettaglio nelle quattro località più danneggiate. Il tentativo di una applicazione rigorosa della scala ha fatto emergere alcune problematiche metodologiche, di fronte alle quali sono state fatte delle scelte in linea con le Linee Guida della scala. In particolare l’adozione del grado intero ci sembra l’alternativa più robusta per contrastare la abusata tentazione di usare la scala macrosismica come una misura continua dello scuotimento. This paper shows the results of the macroseismic survey of the December 15, 2009 earthquake, performed according to the EuropeanMacroseismic Scale 1998. The event (Ml 4.2), hit the Tiber Valley, between the Terni and Perugia provinces has been evaluated of intensity 7. As the EMS98 is not yet systematically used for Italian earthquakes, we tested it by means of a detailed survey in the most damaged localities. The several methodological questions arisen led us to make some choices according to the Guidelines of the EMS98, in the intensity assessment. Particularly effective is, in our opinion, the choice to preserve the integer character of the scale, and not use intermediate formulations of the intensity degree.

An application of EMS98 in a medium-sized city: The case of L’Aquila (Central Italy) after the April 6, 2009 Mw 6.3 earthquake

This paper describes the damage survey in the city of L’Aquila after the 6 April 2009 earthquake. The earthquake, whose magnitude and intensity reached Mw=6.3 and Imax=9–10 MCS, struck the Abruzzi region of Central Italy producing severe damage in L’Aquila and in many villages along theMiddle Aterno River valley. After the event, a building- to-building survey was performed in L’Aquila downtown aiming to collect data in order to perform a strict evaluation of the damage. The survey was carried out under the European Macroseismic Scale (EMS98) to evaluate the local macroseismic intensity. This damage survey represents the most complex application of the EMS98 in Italy since it became effective. More than 1,700 buildings (99% of the building stock) were taken into account during the survey at L’Aquila downtown, highlighting the difficult application of the macroseismic scale in a large urban context. The EMS98 revealed itself to be the best tool to perform such kind of analysis in urban settings. The complete survey displayed evidence of peculiar features in the damage distribution. Results revealed that the highest rate of collapses occurred within a delimited area of the historical centre and along the SW border of the fluvial terrace on which the city is settled. Intensity assessed for L’Aquila downtown was 8–9 EMS.Published67-801.11. TTC - Osservazioni e monitoraggio macrosismico del territorio nazionaleJCR Journalrestricte

Rilievo macrosismico del terremoto emiliano del 23 dicembre 2008

Questa nota presenta una sintesi delle attività svolte durante il rilievomacrosismico del terremoto avvenuto tra le province di Parma e Reggio Emilia il 23 dicembre 2008. La scossa di Ml 5.2 è stata localizzata a sud di Parma ed è stata avvertita in tutta l’Italia settentrionale e in gran parte della Liguria e della Toscana. Il presente rapporto illustra lemodalità di intervento del teamQUEST, relative al rilievo degli effetti e alla valutazione in intensità MCS in particolare per le località della zona epicentrale. L’ampia documentazione fotografica illustra alcuni dettagli delle tipologie di danneggiamento rilevate e consente di comprendere meglio le valutazioni dell’intensità macrosismica. This paper presents an overview of the activities performed during the macroseismic field survey of the earthquake that occurred in the Parma and Reggio Emilia region on December 23, 2008. The mainshock (Ml=5.2), was located south of the city of Parma and was resolutely felt through Northern Italy. The report here presented shows the procedures carried out by QUEST (Quick Earthquake Survey Team), concerning the survey. QUEST has been engaged in gathering the damage information and in assessing the macroseismic intensity, in particular about the epicentral area. A copious photo collection shows details of the observed damage nature and allows to better illustrate the intensit

An application of EMS98 in a medium-sized city: the case of l’Aquila (Central Italy) after the april 6, 2009 mw 6.3 earthquake

This paper describes the damage survey in the city of L’Aquila after the 6 April 2009 earthquake. The earthquake, whose magnitude and intensity reached Mw=6.3 and Imax=10 MCS, struck the Abruzzi region of Central Italy producing severe damage in L’Aquila and in many villages along the Middle Aterno River valley. After the event, a building-to-building survey was performed in L’Aquila downtown aiming to collect data in order to perform a strict evaluation of the damage. The survey was carried out under the European Macroseismic Scale (EMS98) to evaluate the local macroseismic intensity. This damage survey represents the most complex application of the EMS98 in Italy since it became effective. More than 1700 buildings (99% of the building stock) were taken into account during the survey at L’Aquila downtown, highlighting the difficult application of the macroseismic scale in a large urban context. The EMS98 revealed itself to be the best tool to perform such kind of analysis in urban settings. The complete survey displayed evidence of peculiar features in the damage distribution. Results revealed that the highest rate of collapses occurred within a delimited area of the historical centre and along the SW border of the fluvial terrace on which the city is settled. Intensity assessed for L’Aquila downtown was 8-9 EMS

An application of EMS98 in a medium-sized city: The case of L’Aquila (Central Italy) after the April 6, 2009 Mw 6.3 earthquake

This paper describes the damage survey in the city of L’Aquila after the 6 April 2009 earthquake. The earthquake, whose magnitude and intensity reached Mw=6.3 and Imax=9–10 MCS, struck the Abruzzi region of Central Italy producing severe damage in L’Aquila and in many villages along theMiddle Aterno River valley. After the event, a building- to-building survey was performed in L’Aquila downtown aiming to collect data in order to perform a strict evaluation of the damage. The survey was carried out under the European Macroseismic Scale (EMS98) to evaluate the local macroseismic intensity. This damage survey represents the most complex application of the EMS98 in Italy since it became effective. More than 1,700 buildings (99% of the building stock) were taken into account during the survey at L’Aquila downtown, highlighting the difficult application of the macroseismic scale in a large urban context. The EMS98 revealed itself to be the best tool to perform such kind of analysis in urban settings. The complete survey displayed evidence of peculiar features in the damage distribution. Results revealed that the highest rate of collapses occurred within a delimited area of the historical centre and along the SW border of the fluvial terrace on which the city is settled. Intensity assessed for L’Aquila downtown was 8–9 EMS

L’indagine macrosismica: metodologia, parametri del terremoto, questioni aperte

Subito dopo l’evento del 6 aprile 2009, come di consueto è stata realizzata una lunga e complessa indagine macrosismica, promossa dal gruppo operativo QUEST, che ha avuto inizialmente l’obiettivo di delimitare l’area di danneggiamento, a supporto delle attività di pronto intervento della Protezione Civile, e successivamente quello di classificare nel modo più accurato e capillare possibile, gli effetti prodotti dall’evento, particolarmente nelle aree danneggiate. A questo scopo è stata prodotta una stima utilizzando la scala MCS (Sieberg, 1930); in un secondo momento è stata rifinita l’indagine per una cinquantina di località dell’area maggiormente danneggiata (Is MCS>VII), raccogliendo ed elaborando i dati in termini di scala macrosismica EMS98 (Grünthal, 1998). Per la complessità e la dimensione dei problemi affrontati, questo terremoto ha costituito un banco di prova di grande importanza per la macrosismologia italiana. In questo testo viene descritto il lavoro realizzato, discutendo in particolare alcuni aspetti che hanno messo alla prova le metodologie di indagine tradizionali (sistematiche irregolarità degli insediamenti monitorati, forti divergenze degli scenari di danno rispetto a quelli previsti dalle scale, difficile comparabilità con scenari storici, ecc.) e presentandone i risultati, in relazione ai parametri epicentrali che ne risultano e il loro contributo più diretto alla comprensione complessiva della sismicità dell’area

L’indagine macrosismica: metodologia, parametri del terremoto, questioni aperte

Subito dopo l’evento del 6 aprile 2009, come di consueto è stata realizzata una lunga e complessa indagine macrosismica, promossa dal gruppo operativo QUEST, che ha avuto inizialmente l’obiettivo di delimitare l’area di danneggiamento, a supporto delle attività di pronto intervento della Protezione Civile, e successivamente quello di classificare nel modo più accurato e capillare possibile, gli effetti prodotti dall’evento, particolarmente nelle aree danneggiate. A questo scopo è stata prodotta una stima utilizzando la scala MCS (Sieberg, 1930); in un secondo momento è stata rifinita l’indagine per una cinquantina di località dell’area maggiormente danneggiata (Is MCS>VII), raccogliendo ed elaborando i dati in termini di scala macrosismica EMS98 (Grünthal, 1998). Per la complessità e la dimensione dei problemi affrontati, questo terremoto ha costituito un banco di prova di grande importanza per la macrosismologia italiana. In questo testo viene descritto il lavoro realizzato, discutendo in particolare alcuni aspetti che hanno messo alla prova le metodologie di indagine tradizionali (sistematiche irregolarità degli insediamenti monitorati, forti divergenze degli scenari di danno rispetto a quelli previsti dalle scale, difficile comparabilità con scenari storici, ecc.) e presentandone i risultati, in relazione ai parametri epicentrali che ne risultano e il loro contributo più diretto alla comprensione complessiva della sismicità dell’area.Published49-551.11. TTC - Osservazioni e monitoraggio macrosismico del territorio nazionaleN/A or not JCRope

Damage Distribution in L’Aquila City (Central Italy) during the 6 April 2009 Earthquake

The 6 April 2009 Mw 6.3 earthquake (Imax 9–10, Mercalli–Cancani– Sieberg [MCS]) struck the Abruzzi region of central Italy, producing severe damage in the city of L’Aquila. There was heavy damage in the city, especially in the central city area where unusual features of the damage pattern were immediately evident. The aim of this study is to correlate the distribution and the severity of the damage with the geological setting of the area, taking into account the characteristics of the building stock through time. Strong-motion recordings and ambient noise measurements taken soon after the mainshock and during the entire aftershock sequence showed variability in groundmotion amplification throughout the city. Factor of amplification (Fa) results are very high in the southern sector of the city, where the Limi Rossi del Colle dell’Aquila (LRCA) red silts outcrop, and quickly decrease northward, where LRCA is absent. This result correlates with the damage distribution to reinforced concrete (RC) buildings. In the southern sector the rate of collapse of RC buildings was 10%, versus 2% in the rest of the city. General conclusions highlight that the building stock of the city suffered different levels of damage that can be partially explained by the combination of building vulnerability and surface geology.Published1543-15534.2. TTC - Modelli per la stima della pericolosità sismica a scala nazionaleJCR Journalrestricte