Application of Kriging Technique to Seismic Intensity Data

Abstract

Spatial analysis, involving experimental semivariogram evaluation and kriging interpolation, is performed on macroseismic intensity data assumed to represent a regionalized variable. A semivariogram is modeled, showing that data components act at different scale levels. Interpretation of the semivariogram in terms of fractal dimension allows separation of the error component from other scaledependent components. Use of an objective best spatial-range determination for filtering eliminates the subjective choice that is usually based on data-sampling density, permitting the reconstruction of the smoothed interpolated intensity field. Results are given together with error estimation due to local variability and sampling-density distribution. The method is first applied to synthetic macroseismic data with controlled variable error content and sampling density: the ability to rebuild the original, error-free intensity field is demonstrated. Then macroseismic data from an Italian medium-intensity earthquake are analyzed and spatial intensity attenuation reevaluated.