Probabilistic seismic hazard assessment of Italy using kernel estimation methods

A representation of seismic hazard is proposed for Italy based on the zone-free approach developed by Woo (BSSA 86(2):353–362, 1996a), which is based on a kernel estimation method governed by concepts of fractal geometry and self-organized seismicity, not requiring the definition of seismogenic zoning. The purpose is to assess the influence of seismogenic zoning on the results obtained for the probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) of Italy using the standard Cornell’s method. The hazard has been estimated for outcropping rock site conditions in terms of maps and uniform hazard spectra for a selected site, with 10 % probability of exceedance in 50 years. Both spectral acceleration and spectral displacement have been considered as ground motion parameters. Differences in the results of PSHA between the two methods are compared and discussed. The analysis shows that, in areas such as Italy, characterized by a reliable earthquake catalog and in which faults are generally not easily identifiable, a zone-free approach can be considered a valuable tool to address epistemic uncertainty within a logic tree framework.     

基于泊松分布的地震烈度发生概率模型

地震烈度发生概率和地震烈度超越概率都是衡量场地地震危险性的重要指标，地震烈度发生概率的计算民是人们比较关注的问题之定。本文根据目前工程地震和地震减灾研究中比较常用的Ｃｏｒｎｅｌｌ类地震活动性模型和反映地震时，空，强非均匀性的地震活动性模型，推导了场地地震烈度发生概率和计算表达式，通过计算实例，讨论了其与场地地震烈度极值概率（即超越概率差，通常被用来替代地震烈率发生概率）的差异，认为在一般情况下，两     

A Probabilistic Assessment of Earthquake Hazard Parameters in NW Himalaya and the Adjoining Regions

The maximum likelihood estimation method is applied to study the geographical distribution of earthquake hazard parameters and seismicity in 28 seismogenic source zones of NW Himalaya and the adjoining regions. For this purpose, we have prepared a reliable, homogeneous and complete earthquake catalogue during the period 1500–2010. The technique used here allows the data to contain either historical or instrumental era or even a combination of the both. In this study, the earthquake hazard parameters, which include maximum regional magnitude (M _max), mean seismic activity rate (λ), the parameter b (or β?=?b/log e) of Gutenberg–Richter (G–R) frequency-magnitude relationship, the return periods of earthquakes with a certain threshold magnitude along with their probabilities of occurrences have been calculated using only instrumental earthquake data during the period 1900–2010. The uncertainties in magnitude have been also taken into consideration during the calculation of hazard parameters. The earthquake hazard in the whole NW Himalaya region has been calculated in 28 seismogenic source zones delineated on the basis of seismicity level, tectonics and focal mechanism. The annual probability of exceedance of earthquake (activity rate) of certain magnitude is also calculated for all seismogenic source zones. The obtained earthquake hazard parameters were geographically distributed in all 28 seismogenic source zones to analyze the spatial variation of localized seismicity parameters. It is observed that seismic hazard level is high in Quetta-Kirthar-Sulaiman region in Pakistan, Hindukush-Pamir Himalaya region and Uttarkashi-Chamoli region in Himalayan Frontal Thrust belt. The source zones that are expected to have maximum regional magnitude (M _max) of more than 8.0 are Quetta, southern Pamir, Caucasus and Kashmir-Himanchal Pradesh which have experienced such magnitude of earthquakes in the past. It is observed that seismic hazard level varies spatially from one zone to another which suggests that the examined regions have high crustal heterogeneity and seismotectonic complexity.     

Evaluation of seismicity and seismic hazard parameters in Turkey and surrounding area using a new approach to the Gutenberg–Richter relation

In this study, the spatial distributions of seismicity and seismic hazard were assessed for Turkey and its surrounding area. For this purpose, earthquakes that occurred between 1964 and 2004 with magnitudes of M ≥ 4 were used in the region (30–42°N and 20–45°E). For the estimation of seismicity parameters and its mapping, Turkey and surrounding area are divided into 1,275 circular subregions. The b-value from the Gutenberg–Richter frequency–magnitude distributions is calculated by the classic way and the new alternative method both using the least-squares approach. The a-value in the Gutenberg–Richter frequency–magnitude distributions is taken as a constant value in the new alternative method. The b-values calculated by the new method were mapped. These results obtained from both methods are compared. The b-value shows different distributions along Turkey for both techniques. The b-values map prepared with new technique presents a better consistency with regional tectonics, earthquake activities, and epicenter distributions. Finally, the return period and occurrence hazard probability of M ≥ 6.5 earthquakes in 75 years were calculated by using the Poisson model for both techniques. The return period and occurrence hazard probability maps determined from both techniques showed a better consistency with each other. Moreover, maps of the occurrence hazard probability and return period showed better consistency with the b-parameter seismicity maps calculated from the new method. The occurrence hazard probability and return period of M ≥ 6.5 earthquakes were calculated as 90–99% and 5–10 years, respectively, from the Poisson model in the western part of the studying region.     

青藏高原东北缘地震活动性广义帕累托模型的全域敏感性分析

基于广义帕累托分布构建地震活动性模型,因其输入参数取值难以避免不确定性,导致依据该模型所得的地震危险性估计结果具有不确定性。鉴于此,本文选取青藏高原东北缘为研究区,提出了基于全域敏感性分析的地震危险性估计的不确定性分析流程和方法。首先,利用地震活动性广义帕累托模型,进行研究区地震危险性估计;然后,选取地震记录的起始时间和震级阈值作为地震活动性模型的输入参数,采用具有全域敏感性分析功能的E-FAST方法,对上述两个参数的不确定性以及两参数之间的相互作用对地震危险性估计不确定性的影响进行定量分析。结果表明：地震危险性估计结果（不同重现期的震级重现水平、震级上限及相应的置信区间）对两个输入参数中的震级阈值更为敏感;不同重现期的地震危险性估计结果对震级阈值的敏感程度不同;对不同的重现期而言,在影响地震危险性估计结果的不确定性上,两个输入参数之间存在非线性效应,且非线性效应程度不同。本文提出的不确定性分析流程和方法,可以推广应用于基于其它类型地震活动性模型的地震危险性估计不确定性分析。     

"Parametric-historic" Procedure for Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis Part II: Assessment of Seismic Hazard at Specified Site

—A new methodology for probabilistic seismic hazard analysis is described. The approach combines the best features of the "deductive" (Cornell, 1968) and "historic" (Veneziano et al., 1984) procedures. It can be called a "parametric-historic" procedure. The maximum regional magnitude mmax is of paramount importance in this approach and Part I of the authors’ work (Kijko and Graham, 1998) was dedicated to developing efficient statistical procedures that can be used for the evaluation of this parameter. In Part II the approach of a probabilistic seismic hazard assessment at a given site is described. The approach permits the utilization of incomplete earthquake catalogues. It is assumed that a typical catalogue contains two types of information historical macroseismic events that occurred over a period of a few hundred years and recent, instrumental data. The historical part of the catalogue contains only the strongest events, whereas the complete part can be divided into several subcatalogues, each assumed complete above a specified threshold of magnitude. The author’s approach also takes into account uncertainty in the determination of the earthquake magnitude. The technique has been developed specifically for the estimation of seismic hazard at individual sites, without the subjective judgment involved in the definition of seismic source zones, in which specific active faults have not been mapped and identified, and where the causes of seismicity are not well understood. As an example of the application of the new technique, the results of a typical hazard analysis for a hypothetical engineering structure located in the territory of South Africa are presented. It was assumed that the only reliable information in the assessment of the seismic hazard parameters in the vicinity of the selected site comes from a knowledge of past seismicity. The procedure was applied to seismic data that were divided into an incomplete part, containing only the largest events, and two complete parts, containing information obtained from instruments. The simulation experiments described in Part I of our study have shown that the Bayesian estimator K-S-B tends to perform very well, especially in the presence of inevitable deviations from the simple Gutenberg–Richter model. In the light of this fact value &gif1; = 6.66 - 0.44, which was obtained from the K-S-B technique, was regarded as the best choice. At an exceedance probability of 10^х per annum, the median value of peak ground acceleration on rock at the site is 0.31g, and at an exceedance probability of 10^ц per annum, the median peak ground acceleration at the site is 0.39g. The median value of the maximum possible acceleration at the site is 0.40g, which was calculated from attenuation formulae by assuming the occurrence of the strongest possible earthquake, e.g., with magnitude &gif1; = 6.66 at distance 10 km.     

Improving seismic hazard approaches for critical infrastructures: a pilot study in the Po Plain

Paper describes the extensive work done in the SIGMA project, aimed at improving knowledge on data, methods and tools to better quantify uncertainties in seismic hazard assessment (SHA). The authors cooperated in the study of potential faults and geological structures, earthquake catalogues, selection of ground motion prediction equations, and methods for site effect evaluation suitable for SHA. All the contributions merged into a probabilistic seismic hazard study conducted for three representative sites of the Po Plain in Northern Italy. Po Plain is a low-to-moderate seismicity region, characterized by some critical features, such as blind faulting and deep alluvium sediments, and by scarcity of strong motion data; these sources of uncertainties in seismic hazard estimation are common to other low seismicity areas around the world. Within SIGMA, special care was devoted to: (a) the use of the single station sigma approach inside the probabilistic SHA, (b) the comparative use of generalized attenuation functions to evaluate the hazard contribution of composite fault systems, and (c) the study of the epistemic uncertainties at play when different modelling approaches to site effects are used.     

基于时间相依地震活动性模型的地震时间序列模拟

模拟地震时间序列在地震危险性分析和地震灾害预测等领域中具有重要作用,地震活动性模型是模拟地震序列的重要理论基础.本文以时间相依地震活动性模型为理论模型,系统梳理了现有时间相依地震活动性模型理论与方法,研究了断层（震源）上最新地震发生时间已知、未知以及地震历史开放间隔已知三种情况下地震发生概率的计算方法,分析了地震复发间隔的变异系数对时间相依地震发生概率的影响.研究了基于布朗模型的特征地震准周期发生的物理原理,建立了时间相依地震时间序列的模拟方法.研究结果表明,在地震离逝时间较长的情况下,基于时间相依地震活动性模型计算的地震发生概率要显著大于泊松模型;在地震历史开放时间已知情况下,计算的地震发生概率要高于地震离逝时间未知的情况.地震复发间隔的变异系数越小,模拟的地震时间序列越呈现周期性.本文研究结果可提高长期地震概率预测水平,模拟的具有时间相依特征的地震时间序列可用于地震预测、概率地震危险性分析以及地震灾害预测等领域.

     

Influence of seismicity parameter uncertainty on seismic hazard estimation of cities and towns

Introduction In his Doctor thesis, PAN (2000) has roughly studied some about the influence of parameter uncertainty on seismic hazard analysis. The aim of this paper is especially to study the uncertainty influence extent of seismic hazard analysis result in a spot, owing to the uncertainty of seismicity parameters induced by variational statistical time ranges of various statistical regions in the whole country. The authors have inquired into the uncertain extents of influence of seismic p…     

地震活动性参数不确定性对城镇危险性估计的影响

着重研究了由于统计时段选取不唯一性产生的地震活动性参数的不确定性, 对全国310个地级市以上城镇地震危险性估计的影响;并绘出中国大陆分区50年不同超越概率水平下烈度平均变化值和峰值加速度平均相对变化值示意图,为实地地震安全性评价提供了有价值的参考数据．     

Uncertainty Analysis and Expert Judgment in Seismic Hazard Analysis

The large uncertainty associated with the prediction of future earthquakes is usually regarded as the main reason for increased hazard estimates which have resulted from some recent large scale probabilistic seismic hazard analysis studies (e.g. the PEGASOS study in Switzerland and the Yucca Mountain study in the USA). It is frequently overlooked that such increased hazard estimates are characteristic for a single specific method of probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA): the traditional (Cornell?CMcGuire) PSHA method which has found its highest level of sophistication in the SSHAC probability method. Based on a review of the SSHAC probability model and its application in the PEGASOS project, it is shown that the surprising results of recent PSHA studies can be explained to a large extent by the uncertainty model used in traditional PSHA, which deviates from the state of the art in mathematics and risk analysis. This uncertainty model, the Ang?CTang uncertainty model, mixes concepts of decision theory with probabilistic hazard assessment methods leading to an overestimation of uncertainty in comparison to empirical evidence. Although expert knowledge can be a valuable source of scientific information, its incorporation into the SSHAC probability method does not resolve the issue of inflating uncertainties in PSHA results. Other, more data driven, PSHA approaches in use in some European countries are less vulnerable to this effect. The most valuable alternative to traditional PSHA is the direct probabilistic scenario-based approach, which is closely linked with emerging neo-deterministic methods based on waveform modelling.     

Determination of optimum kernel bandwidth for northern Marmara region,Turkey

As a relatively recent development, spatial smoothing methods have been introduced to identify seismic patterns. Among the methods developed to model the spatial variation, methods based on utilization of 3-D Gaussian isotropic kernels have a wide reception. The most important question remaining to be answered in the application of these methods is the determination of the optimum kernel bandwidth. At the present, researchers’ efforts to clarify the subject have still not yet finalized, this study aims to provide insightful knowledge for future efforts. In this study, for the region bounded by 27°–33° longitudes and 39°–41° latitudes, where the western section of the famous Northern Anatolian fault lies, smoothing techniques are implemented to determine the optimum smoothing kernel bandwidth for point sources. The influence of the modeling of seismicity through the computation of the optimum smoothing kernel bandwidth is examined. In addition, the sensitivity of each smoothing technique to the seismic patterns, whether densely clustered or scarcely populated, is investigated. In the end, the smoothing method based on optimum neighbor number is identified as highly sensitive to the density of seismicity and seismic clusters, and better in modeling high seismicity compared to the model based on single optimum smoothing distance used for the entire region of interest.     

Evaluation of a recently proposed record selection and scaling procedure for low‐rise to mid‐rise reinforced concrete buildings and its use for probabilistic risk assessment studies

This paper evaluates a recent record selection and scaling procedure of the authors that can determine the probabilistic structural response of buildings behaving either in the elastic or post‐elastic range. This feature marks a significant strength on the procedure as the probabilistic structural response distribution conveys important information on probability‐based damage assessment. The paper presents case studies that show the utilization of the proposed record selection and scaling procedure as a tool for the estimation of damage states and derivation of site‐specific and region‐specific fragility functions. The method can be used to describe exceedance probabilities of damage limits under a certain target hazard level with known annual exceedance rate (via probabilistic seismic hazard assessment). Thus, the resulting fragility models can relate the seismicity of the region (or a site) with the resulting building performance in a more accurate manner. Under this context, this simple and computationally efficient record selection and scaling procedure can be benefitted significantly by probability‐based risk assessment methods that have started to be considered as indispensable for developing robust earthquake loss models. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of ground-motion correlation on probabilistic assessments of seismic hazard and loss: sensitivity analysis

Recent studies have shown that the proper treatment of ground-motion variability and, particularly, the correlation of ground motion are essential for the estimation of the seismic hazard, damage and loss for distributed portfolios. In this work we compared the effects of variations in the between-earthquake correlation and in the site-to-site correlation on probabilistic estimations of seismic damage and loss for the extended objects (hypothetical portfolio) and critical elements (e.g. bridges) of a network. Taiwan Island has been chosen as a test case for this study because of relatively high seismicity and previous experience in earthquake hazard modelling. The hazard and loss estimations were performed using Monte Carlo approach on the basis of stochastic catalogues and random ground-motion fields. We showed that the influence of correlation on parameters of seismic hazard, characteristics of loss distribution and the probability of damage depend, on one hand, on level of hazard and probability level of interest (return period) and, on the other hand, the relative influence of each type of correlation is not equal.     

Kernel bandwidth selection for a first order nonparametric streamflow simulation model

A new approach for streamflow simulation using nonparametric methods was described in a recent publication (Sharma et al. 1997). Use of nonparametric methods has the advantage that they avoid the issue of selecting a probability distribution and can represent nonlinear features, such as asymmetry and bimodality that hitherto were difficult to represent, in the probability structure of hydrologic variables such as streamflow and precipitation. The nonparametric method used was kernel density estimation, which requires the selection of bandwidth (smoothing) parameters. This study documents some of the tests that were conduced to evaluate the performance of bandwidth estimation methods for kernel density estimation. Issues related to selection of optimal smoothing parameters for kernel density estimation with small samples (200 or fewer data points) are examined. Both reference to a Gaussian density and data based specifications are applied to estimate bandwidths for samples from bivariate normal mixture densities. The three data based methods studied are Maximum Likelihood Cross Validation (MLCV), Least Square Cross Validation (LSCV) and Biased Cross Validation (BCV2). Modifications for estimating optimal local bandwidths using MLCV and LSCV are also examined. We found that the use of local bandwidths does not necessarily improve the density estimate with small samples. Of the global bandwidth estimators compared, we found that MLCV and LSCV are better because they show lower variability and higher accuracy while Biased Cross Validation suffers from multiple optimal bandwidths for samples from strongly bimodal densities. These results, of particular interest in stochastic hydrology where small samples are common, may have importance in other applications of nonparametric density estimation methods with similar sample sizes and distribution shapes. Received: November 12, 1997     

Kernel bandwidth selection for a first order nonparametric streamflow simulation model

A new approach for streamflow simulation using nonparametric methods was described in a recent publication (Sharma et al. 1997). Use of nonparametric methods has the advantage that they avoid the issue of selecting a probability distribution and can represent nonlinear features, such as asymmetry and bimodality that hitherto were difficult to represent, in the probability structure of hydrologic variables such as streamflow and precipitation. The nonparametric method used was kernel density estimation, which requires the selection of bandwidth (smoothing) parameters. This study documents some of the tests that were conduced to evaluate the performance of bandwidth estimation methods for kernel density estimation. Issues related to selection of optimal smoothing parameters for kernel density estimation with small samples (200 or fewer data points) are examined. Both reference to a Gaussian density and data based specifications are applied to estimate bandwidths for samples from bivariate normal mixture densities. The three data based methods studied are Maximum Likelihood Cross Validation (MLCV), Least Square Cross Validation (LSCV) and Biased Cross Validation (BCV2). Modifications for estimating optimal local bandwidths using MLCV and LSCV are also examined. We found that the use of local bandwidths does not necessarily improve the density estimate with small samples. Of the global bandwidth estimators compared, we found that MLCV and LSCV are better because they show lower variability and higher accuracy while Biased Cross Validation suffers from multiple optimal bandwidths for samples from strongly bimodal densities. These results, of particular interest in stochastic hydrology where small samples are common, may have importance in other applications of nonparametric density estimation methods with similar sample sizes and distribution shapes. Received: November 12, 1997     

Bayesian estimation of strong earthquakes in the Inner Messiniakos fault zone, southern Greece, based on seismological and geological data

Statistical estimates of earthquake magnitudes are unreliable when based onvery few historical data. Additional sources of information, such asgeological data, are then necessary to update estimates of seismicityparameters. The Bayesian probability theory is a tool to combine priorinformation of seismicity obtained from geological data with historicalobservations. This theory is tested in the case of the Inner Messiniakosfault zone, southern Greece, for the estimation of the probability ofoccurrence of strong earthquakes. Prior estimates of seismicity aredeveloped from slip rate measurements, obtained from offsets of geologicalformations, on the basis of both onshore and offshore neotectonic data.The analysis emphasizes the importance of the input seismicity parameters,particularly the significance of the upper bound magnitude in the estimationof the seismic potential of active faults.     

我国部分地区基本烈度的概率标定

文中根据对我国华北、西北和西南地区45个城镇的地震危险性分析结果,对中国烈度区划图上预报的基本烈度进行了初步的概率标定。结果发现区划图上所提供的基本烈度大致相应于50年内超越概率为0.14的烈度水平。 文中的计算是按照地震危险性分析的一般步骤进行的。以下是在实际应用中考虑的几个主要问题:1)根据地震地质条件和历史地震震中分布合理地划分潜在震源的位置和大小;2)确定与当前地震活动相一致的震级—频度关系;3)选用能够反映不同区域地质构造的烈度衰减规律。 本文结合图表对地震危险性分析的结果进行了分析和讨论。     

中强地震活动区地震年平均发生率确定方法的比较

Two kinds of methods for determining seismic parameters are presented,that is,the potential seismic source zoning method and grid-spatially smoothing method. The Gaussian smoothing method and the modified Gaussian smoothing method are described in detail, and a comprehensive analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of these methods is made. Then,we take central China as the study region,and use the Gaussian smoothing method and potential seismic source zoning method to build seismic models to calculate the mean annual seismic rate. Seismic hazard is calculated using the probabilistic seismic hazard analysis method to construct the ground motion acceleration zoning maps. The differences between the maps and these models are discussed and the causes are investigated. The results show that the spatial smoothing method is suitable for estimating the seismic hazard over the moderate and low seismicity regions or the hazard caused by background seismicity; while the potential seismic source zoning method is suitable for estimating the seismic hazard in well-defined seismotectonics. Combining the spatial smoothing method and the potential seismic source zoning method with an integrated account of the seismicity and known seismotectonics is a feasible approach to estimate the seismic hazard in moderate and low seismicity regions.     

Seismic risk assessment for developing countries: Pakistan as a case study

Modern Earthquake Risk Assessment (ERA) methods usually require seismo-tectonic information for Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment (PSHA) that may not be readily available in developing countries. To bypass this drawback, this paper presents a practical event-based PSHA method that uses instrumental seismicity, available historical seismicity, as well as limited information on geology and tectonic setting. Historical seismicity is integrated with instrumental seismicity to determine the long-term hazard. The tectonic setting is included by assigning seismic source zones associated with known major faults. Monte Carlo simulations are used to generate earthquake catalogues with randomized key hazard parameters. A case study region in Pakistan is selected to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method. The results indicate that the proposed method produces seismic hazard maps consistent with previous studies, thus being suitable for generating such maps in regions where limited data are available. The PSHA procedure is developed as an integral part of an ERA framework named EQRAM. The framework is also used to determine seismic risk in terms of annual losses for the study region.