Publications
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Documentation for the 2008 update of the United States National Seismic Hazard Maps
The 2008 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Seismic Hazard Maps display earthquake ground motions for various probability levels across the United States and are applied in seismic provisions of building codes, insurance rate structures, risk assessments, and other public policy. This update of the maps incorporates new findings on earthquake ground shaking, faults, seismicity, and geodesy. Th
Authors
Mark D. Petersen, Arthur D. Frankel, Stephen C. Harmsen, Charles S. Mueller, Kathleen M. Haller, Russell L. Wheeler, Robert L. Wesson, Yuehua Zeng, Oliver S. Boyd, David M. Perkins, Nicolas Luco, Edward H. Field, Chris J. Wills, Kenneth S. Rukstales
Converting HAZUS capacity curves to seismic hazard-compatible building fragility functions: effect of hysteretic models
A methodology was recently proposed for the development of hazard-compatible building fragility models using parameters of capacity curves and damage state thresholds from HAZUS (Karaca and Luco, 2008). In the methodology, HAZUS curvilinear capacity curves were used to define nonlinear dynamic SDOF models that were subjected to the nonlinear time history analysis instead of the capacity spectrum m
Authors
Hyeuk Ryu, Nicolas Luco, Jack W. Baker, Erdem Karaca
Trans-Alaska Crustal Transect and continental evolution involving subduction underplating and synchronous foreland thrusting
We investigate the crustal structure and tectonic evolution of the North American continent in Alaska, where the continent has grown through magmatism, accretion, and tectonic underplating. In the 1980s and early 1990s, we conducted a geological and geophysical investigation, known as the Trans-Alaska Crustal Transect (TACT), along a 1350-km-long corridor from the Aleutian Trench to the Arctic coa
Authors
Gary S. Fuis, Thomas E. Moore, G. Plafker, T. M. Brocher, M. A. Fisher, Walter D. Mooney, W. J. Nokleberg, R.A. Page, B. C. Beaudoin, N.I. Christensen, A. R. Levander, W. J. Lutter, R. W. Saltus, N.A. Ruppert
Collision tectonics of the Central Indian Suture zone as inferred from a deep seismic sounding study
The Central Indian Suture (CIS) is a mega-shear zone extending for hundreds of kilometers across central India. Reprocessing of deep seismic reflection data acquired across the CIS was carried out using workstation-based commercial software. The data distinctly indicate different reflectivity characteristics northwest and southeast of the CIS. Reflections northwest of the CIS predominantly dip sou
Authors
D.M. Mall, P.R. Reddy, Walter D. Mooney
Finite-fault analysis of the 2004 Parkfield, California, earthquake using Pnl waveforms
We apply a kinematic finite-fault inversion scheme to Pnl displacement waveforms recorded at 14 regional stations (Δ<2°) to recover the distribution of coseismic slip for the 2004 Parkfield earthquake using both synthetic Green’s functions (SGFs) calculated for one-dimensional (1D) crustal-velocity models and empirical Green’s functions (EGFs) based on the recordings of a single Mw 5.0 aftershock.
Authors
C. Mendoza, S. Hartzell
Postseismic relaxation associated with transient creep rheology
[1] Perfettini and Avouac (2004) postulated that both the aftershock rate (assumed proportional to the local stressing rate) and the postseismic relaxation are driven by the loading imposed by postseismic slip on the brittle creep fault zone (BCFZ), the downdip extension of the fault zone below the coseismic rupture. I explore the consequences of that hypothesis for a long, strike-slip fault in th
Authors
James C. Savage
Investigation of the M6.6 Niigata-Chuetsu Oki, Japan, earthquake of July 16, 2007
The M6.6 mainshock of the Niigata Chuetsu Oki (offshore) earthquake occurred at 10:13 a.m. local time on July 16, 2007, and was followed by a sequence of aftershocks that were felt during the entire time of the reconnaissance effort. The mainshock had an estimated focal depth of 10 km and struck in the Japan Sea offshore Kariwa. Analysis of waveforms from source inversion studies indicates that th
Authors
Robert Kayen, Brian D. Collins, Norm Abrahamson, Scott Ashford, Scott J. Brandenberg, Lloyd Cluff, Stephen Dickenson, Laurie Johnson, Yasuo Tanaka, Kohji Tokimatsu, Toshimi Kabeyasawa, Yohsuke Kawamata, Hidetaka Koumoto, Nanako Marubashi, Santiago Pujol, Clint Steele, Joseph I. Sun, Ben Tsai, Peter Yanev, Mark Yashinsky, Kim Yousok
Data from theodolite measurements of creep rates on San Francisco Bay region faults, California: 1979-2007
Introduction
Our purpose is to update with six additional years of data, our creep data archive on San Francisco Bay region active faults for use by the scientific research community. Earlier data (1979-2001) were reported in Galehouse (2002) and were analyzed and described in detail in a summary report (Galehouse and Lienkaemper, 2003). A complete analysis of our earlier results obtained on th
Authors
Forrest S. McFarland, James J. Lienkaemper, S. John Caskey, Karen Grove
Velocity and Density Models Incorporating the Cascadia Subduction Zone for 3D Earthquake Ground Motion Simulations
In support of earthquake hazards and ground motion studies in the Pacific Northwest, three-dimensional P- and S-wave velocity (3D Vp and Vs) and density (3D rho) models incorporating the Cascadia subduction zone have been developed for the region encompassed from about 40.2°N to 50°N latitude, and from about -122°W to -129°W longitude. The model volume includes elevations from 0 km to 60 km (eleva
Authors
William J. Stephenson
Rotational seismology: AGU session, working group, and website
Introduction
Although effects of rotational motions due to earthquakes have long been observed (e. g., Mallet, 1862), nevertheless Richter (1958, p. 213) stated that: 'Perfectly general motion would also involve rotations about three perpendicular axes, and three more instruments for these. Theory indicates, and observation confirms, that such rotations are negligible.' However, Richter provide
Authors
William H.K. Lee, Heiner Igel, Maria I. Todorovska, John R. Evans
U.S. Geological Survey Menlo Park campus: Self-guided tour
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), established by an act of Congress in 1879, is the Nation's largest natural science and civilian mapping agency. The USGS works in cooperation with more than 2,000 organizations across the country to provide reliable, impartial scientific information. This information is used to minimize the loss of life and property from natural disasters, safeguard the Nation's
Authors
Elizabeth M. Colvard, Mara G. Tongue, Leslie C. Gordon