The San Francisco earthquake of March 22, 1957, was recorded simultaneously by accelerometers
at five United States Coast and Geodetic Survey stations in the San Francisco area. Response
spectrum curves were computed from the acceleration-time records, and from these response
spectrum curves the spectrum intensities have been determined. From these spectrum intensities
certain conclusions are drawn as to: (1) the effects of local geology on the recorded ground motions;
(2) the calculation of total energy released by the earthquake from strong-motion accelerometer
records; (3) possible influence of structural dynamic behavior on the accelerations recorded in
building basements, and the relationship between basement accelerations and ground accelerations;
and (4) the applicability of a simplified type of strong-motion earthquake instrument for
investigations of local distribution effects. A general comparison is made between the present
earthquake and typical Pacific Coast earthquakes
