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Comment on "Influence of fochal mechanism in probabilistic seismic hazard analysis" by Vincenzo Convertito and Andre' Herrero
Author(s)
Language
English
Status
Published
JCR Journal
JCR Journal
Peer review journal
Yes
Title of the book
Issue/vol(year)
2 / 96 (2006)
Publisher
Seismological Society of America
Pages (printed)
750-753
Issued date
2006
Keywords
Abstract
The influence of style-of-faulting on strong groundmotions
has been the subject of debate for some time. Although
some controversy persists, the general consensus is
that ground motions produced by reverse faults are higher
than those produced by normal faults, whereas motions from
strike-slip faults are somewhere in between. In a recent article,
Convertito and Herrero (2004) derived a correction
factor for focal mechanism to be applied to predictive equations.
This issue was previously addressed by Bommer et al.
(2003). Although this article is cited by Convertito and Herrero,
it seems that its aims and scope were not well understood,
and we would therefore like to clarify what the
method presented therein entails, especially because we feel
that Convertito and Herrero’s approach of characterizing focal
mechanisms based solely on the radiation pattern is difficult
to justify.
After presenting their correction scheme, Convertito
and Herrero go on to present an implementation of probabilistic
seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) explicitly accounting
for focal mechanism. This represents a real innovation in
terms of methodology because it allows propagation of the
improvements in ground-motion prediction gained through
the focal-mechanism adjustments to hazard estimation.
Characterizing the dominant scenario in terms of focal
mechanism furthermore has the advantage of providing constraints
for numerical simulations that are derived directly
from the hazard computation, rather than from arbitrary assumptions.
However, in our opinion, the methodology presented
by Convertito and Herrero has some serious shortcomings
which would need to be addressed before it can
lead to improvements of the PSHA methodology. Our discussion
includes a comparison with the new Italian seismic
hazard map, which was derived using the Bommer et al.
(2003) adjustment methodology.
has been the subject of debate for some time. Although
some controversy persists, the general consensus is
that ground motions produced by reverse faults are higher
than those produced by normal faults, whereas motions from
strike-slip faults are somewhere in between. In a recent article,
Convertito and Herrero (2004) derived a correction
factor for focal mechanism to be applied to predictive equations.
This issue was previously addressed by Bommer et al.
(2003). Although this article is cited by Convertito and Herrero,
it seems that its aims and scope were not well understood,
and we would therefore like to clarify what the
method presented therein entails, especially because we feel
that Convertito and Herrero’s approach of characterizing focal
mechanisms based solely on the radiation pattern is difficult
to justify.
After presenting their correction scheme, Convertito
and Herrero go on to present an implementation of probabilistic
seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) explicitly accounting
for focal mechanism. This represents a real innovation in
terms of methodology because it allows propagation of the
improvements in ground-motion prediction gained through
the focal-mechanism adjustments to hazard estimation.
Characterizing the dominant scenario in terms of focal
mechanism furthermore has the advantage of providing constraints
for numerical simulations that are derived directly
from the hazard computation, rather than from arbitrary assumptions.
However, in our opinion, the methodology presented
by Convertito and Herrero has some serious shortcomings
which would need to be addressed before it can
lead to improvements of the PSHA methodology. Our discussion
includes a comparison with the new Italian seismic
hazard map, which was derived using the Bommer et al.
(2003) adjustment methodology.
References
Abrahamson, N. A., P. Birkhauser, M. Koller, D. Mayer-Rosa, P. Smit,
C. Sprecher, S. Tinic, and R. Graf (2002). Pegasos—a comprehensive
probabilistic seismic hazard assessment for nuclear power plants in
Switzerland, presented at the 12th European Conference on Earthquake
Engineering, London, paper no. 633.
Ambraseys, N. N., J. Douglas, S. K. Sarma, and P. M. Smit (2005). Equations
for the estimation of strong ground motions from shallow crustal
earthquakes using data from Europe and the Middle East: horizontal
peak ground acceleration and spectral acceleration, Bull. Earthquake
Eng. 3, no. 1, 1–53.
Ambraseys, N. N., K. A. Simpson, and J. J. Bommer (1996). The prediction
of horizontal response spectra in Europe, Earthquake Eng. Struct.
Dyn. 25, no. 4, 371–400.
Boore, D. M., and J. Boatwright (1984). Average body-wave radiation coefficients,
Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. 74, no. 5, 1615–1621.
Boore, D. M., W. B. Joyner, and T. Fumal (1997). Equations for estimating
horizontal response spectra and peak acceleration from western North
American earthquakes: a summary of recent work, Seism. Res. Lett.
68, no. 1, 128–153.
Bommer, J. J., J. Douglas, and F. O. Strasser (2003). Style-of-faulting in
ground-motion prediction equations, Bull. Earthquake Eng. 1, no. 2,
171–202.
Bommer, J., F. Scherbaum, H. Bungum, F. Cotton, F. Sabetta, and N. Abrahamson
(2005). On the use of logic-trees for ground-motion prediction
equations in seismic-hazard analysis, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. 95,
no. 2, 377–389.
Campbell, K. W. (1997). Empirical near-source attenuation relationships
for horizontal and vertical components of peak ground acceleration,
peak ground velocity, and pseudo-absolute acceleration response
spectra, Seism. Res. Lett. 68, no. 1, 154–179.
Campbell, K. W. (2003). Prediction of strong ground motion using the
hybrid empirical method: example application to eastern North America,
Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. 93, no. 3, 1012–1033.
Convertito, V., and A. Herrero (2004). Influence of focal mechanism in
probabilistic seismic hazard analysis, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. 94, no. 6,
2124–2136.
Cotton, F., F. Scherbaum, J. J. Bommer, and H. Bungum (2006). Criteria
for selecting and adjusting ground-motion models for specific target
regions (in press).
Gruppo di Lavoro MPS (2004). Redazione della mappa di pericolosita`
sismica prevista dall’Ordinanza PCM 3274 del 20 marzo 2003. Rapporto
Conclusivo per il Dipartimento della Protezione Civile, INGV,
Milano-Roma, April 2004, 65 pp. 5 annexes. http://zonesismiche.
mi.ingv.it/documenti/rapporto_conclusivo.pdf (in Italian).
Jackson, J. (2001). Living with earthquakes: know your faults. The 5th
Mallet-Milne Lecture, J. Earthquake Eng. 5, Special Issue 1, 5–123.
McGarr, A. (1984). Scaling of ground-motion parameters, state of stress
and focal depth, J. Geophys. Res. 89, no. B10, 6969–6979.
Montaldo, V., E. Faccioli, A. Akinci, L. Malagnini, and G. Zonno (2005).
Treatment of ground-motion predictive relationships for the reference
seismic hazard map of Italy, J. Seism. 9, no. 3, 295–316.
Sabetta, F., and A. Pugliese (1987). Attenuation of peak horizontal acceleration
and velocity from Italian strong-motion records, Bull. Seism.
Soc. Am. 77, no. 5, 1491–1513.
Sabetta, F., and A. Pugliese (1996). Estimation of response spectra and
simulation of nonstationary earthquake ground motions, Bull. Seism.
Soc. Am. 86, no. 2, 337–352.
Spudich, P., W. B. Joyner, A. G. Lindh, D. M. Boore, B. M. Margaris, and
J. B. Fletcher (1999). SEA99: revised ground motion prediction relation
for use in extensional tectonic regimes, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am.
89, no. 5, 1156–1170.
C. Sprecher, S. Tinic, and R. Graf (2002). Pegasos—a comprehensive
probabilistic seismic hazard assessment for nuclear power plants in
Switzerland, presented at the 12th European Conference on Earthquake
Engineering, London, paper no. 633.
Ambraseys, N. N., J. Douglas, S. K. Sarma, and P. M. Smit (2005). Equations
for the estimation of strong ground motions from shallow crustal
earthquakes using data from Europe and the Middle East: horizontal
peak ground acceleration and spectral acceleration, Bull. Earthquake
Eng. 3, no. 1, 1–53.
Ambraseys, N. N., K. A. Simpson, and J. J. Bommer (1996). The prediction
of horizontal response spectra in Europe, Earthquake Eng. Struct.
Dyn. 25, no. 4, 371–400.
Boore, D. M., and J. Boatwright (1984). Average body-wave radiation coefficients,
Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. 74, no. 5, 1615–1621.
Boore, D. M., W. B. Joyner, and T. Fumal (1997). Equations for estimating
horizontal response spectra and peak acceleration from western North
American earthquakes: a summary of recent work, Seism. Res. Lett.
68, no. 1, 128–153.
Bommer, J. J., J. Douglas, and F. O. Strasser (2003). Style-of-faulting in
ground-motion prediction equations, Bull. Earthquake Eng. 1, no. 2,
171–202.
Bommer, J., F. Scherbaum, H. Bungum, F. Cotton, F. Sabetta, and N. Abrahamson
(2005). On the use of logic-trees for ground-motion prediction
equations in seismic-hazard analysis, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. 95,
no. 2, 377–389.
Campbell, K. W. (1997). Empirical near-source attenuation relationships
for horizontal and vertical components of peak ground acceleration,
peak ground velocity, and pseudo-absolute acceleration response
spectra, Seism. Res. Lett. 68, no. 1, 154–179.
Campbell, K. W. (2003). Prediction of strong ground motion using the
hybrid empirical method: example application to eastern North America,
Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. 93, no. 3, 1012–1033.
Convertito, V., and A. Herrero (2004). Influence of focal mechanism in
probabilistic seismic hazard analysis, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. 94, no. 6,
2124–2136.
Cotton, F., F. Scherbaum, J. J. Bommer, and H. Bungum (2006). Criteria
for selecting and adjusting ground-motion models for specific target
regions (in press).
Gruppo di Lavoro MPS (2004). Redazione della mappa di pericolosita`
sismica prevista dall’Ordinanza PCM 3274 del 20 marzo 2003. Rapporto
Conclusivo per il Dipartimento della Protezione Civile, INGV,
Milano-Roma, April 2004, 65 pp. 5 annexes. http://zonesismiche.
mi.ingv.it/documenti/rapporto_conclusivo.pdf (in Italian).
Jackson, J. (2001). Living with earthquakes: know your faults. The 5th
Mallet-Milne Lecture, J. Earthquake Eng. 5, Special Issue 1, 5–123.
McGarr, A. (1984). Scaling of ground-motion parameters, state of stress
and focal depth, J. Geophys. Res. 89, no. B10, 6969–6979.
Montaldo, V., E. Faccioli, A. Akinci, L. Malagnini, and G. Zonno (2005).
Treatment of ground-motion predictive relationships for the reference
seismic hazard map of Italy, J. Seism. 9, no. 3, 295–316.
Sabetta, F., and A. Pugliese (1987). Attenuation of peak horizontal acceleration
and velocity from Italian strong-motion records, Bull. Seism.
Soc. Am. 77, no. 5, 1491–1513.
Sabetta, F., and A. Pugliese (1996). Estimation of response spectra and
simulation of nonstationary earthquake ground motions, Bull. Seism.
Soc. Am. 86, no. 2, 337–352.
Spudich, P., W. B. Joyner, A. G. Lindh, D. M. Boore, B. M. Margaris, and
J. B. Fletcher (1999). SEA99: revised ground motion prediction relation
for use in extensional tectonic regimes, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am.
89, no. 5, 1156–1170.
Commentary On
Convertito, V., and A. Herrero (2004). Influence of focal mechanism in
probabilistic seismic hazard analysis, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. 94, no. 6,
2124–2136.
probabilistic seismic hazard analysis, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. 94, no. 6,
2124–2136.
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