Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Macroseismic intensity attenuation in Iran

  • Technical Papers
  • Published:
Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Macroseismic intensity data plays an important role in the process of seismic hazard analysis as well in developing of reliable earthquake loss models. This paper presents a physical-based model to predict macroseismic intensity attenuation based on 560 intensity data obtained in Iran in the time period 1975–2013. The geometric spreading and energy absorption of seismic waves have been considered in the proposed model. The proposed easy to implement relation describes the intensity simply as a function of moment magnitude, source to site distance and focal depth. The prediction capability of the proposed model is assessed by means of residuals analysis. Prediction results have been compared with those of other intensity prediction models for Italy, Turkey, Iran and central Asia. The results indicate the higher attenuation rate for the study area in distances less than 70km.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen TI, Wald DJ, Hotovec AJ, Lin K, Earle PS and Marano KD (2008), “An Atlas of ShakeMaps for selected global earthquakes,” U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1236 47, Golden, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen TI, Wald DJ, Earle PS, Marano KD, Hotovec AJ, Lin K and Hearne M (2009), “An Atlas of ShakeMaps and population exposure catalog for earthquake loss modeling,” Bull. Earthq. Eng., 7(3): 701–718.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allen TI, Wald DJ and Worden CB (2012), “Intensity Attenuation for Active Crustal Regions,” Journal of Seismology, 16: 409–433.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Atkinson G and Kaka S (2007), “Relationship Between Felt Intensity and Instrumental Ground Motion in the Central United States and California,” Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 97(2): 497–510.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bakun WH (2006), “MMI Attenuation and Historical Earthquakes in the Basin and Range Province of Western North America,” Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 96(6): 2206–2220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berberian M and Yeats R (1999), “Patterns of Historical Earthquake Rupture in the Iranian Plateau,” Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 89(1): 120–139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bindi D, Parolai S, Oth A, Abdrakhmatov K, Muraliev A and Zschau J (2011), “Intensity Prediction Equations for Central Asia,” Geophys. J. Int., 187: 327–337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Douglas J (2011), “Ground-Motion Prediction Equations 1964–2010,” Final report RP-59356-FR (PEER Report 2011/102), BRGM, Orléans, France, URL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eleftherriadou AK and Kariabinis AI (2011), “Development of Damage Probability Matrices Based on Greek Earthquake Damage Data,” Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration, 10(1): 129–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erdik M, Aydinoglu N, Fahjan Y, Sesetyan K, Demircioglu M, Siyahi B, Durukal E and Ozbey C (2003), “Earthquake Risk Assessment for Istanbul Metropolitan Area,” Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration, 2(1): 1–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Faenza L and Michelini A (2011), “Regression Analysis of MCS Intensity and Ground Motion Spectral Accelerations (SAs) in Italy,” Geophys. J. Int., 186: 1415–1430.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mak S, Clements RA and Schorlemmer D (2015), “Validating Intensity Prediction Equations for Italy by Observations,” Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 105(6): 2942–2954.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Musson RMW (2005), “Intensity Attenuation in the UK,” Journal of Seismology, 9: 73–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pantea A (1994), “Macroseismic Intensity Attenuation for Crustal Sources on Romanian Territory and Adjacent Areas,” Natural Hazards, 10(1): 65–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siahkali A, Mirzaei N and Rezapour M (2004), “Attenuation Relationships of Seismic Intensity in Iran,” J. Earth & Space Physics, 30(1): 31–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sørensen MB, Stromeyer D and Grünthal G (2009), “Attenuation of Macroseismic Intensity: A New Relation for the Marmara Sea Region, Northwest Turkey,” Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 99 (2A): 538–553.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sørensen MB, Stromeyer D and Grünthal G (2010a), “Intensity Attenuation in the Campania Region, Southern Italy,” J. of Seismology, 14: 209–223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sørensen MB, Stromeyer D and Grünthal G (2010b), “A Macroseismic Intensity Prediction Equation for Intermediate Depth Earthquakes in the Vrancea Region, Romania,” Soil Dynamic and Earthquake Engineering, 30: 1268–1278.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sponheuer W (1960), Metoden zur Herdtiefenbestimmung in der Makroseismik, Freib. Forschungsh. C88, 120 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stromeyer D, Grünthal G and Wahlström R (2004), “Chi-Square Regression for Seismic Strength Parameter Relations, and Their Uncertainties, with Applications to an Mw Based Earthquake Catalogue for Central, Northern and Northwestern Europe,” Journal of Seismology, 8: 143–153.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tselentis G-A and Danciu L (2008), “Empirical Relationships between Modified Mercalli Intensity and Engineering Ground-Motion Parameters in Greece,” Bull. Seis m. Soc. Am., 98(4): 1863–1875.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vacareanu R Iancovici M Neagu C and Pavel F (2015), “Macroseismic Intensity Prediction Equations for Vrancea Intermediate-Depth Seismic Source,” Natural Hazards, 79(3): 2005–2031.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yaghmaei-Sabegh S, Tsang H-H and Lam NT K (2011), “Conversion between Peak Ground Motion Parameters and Modified Mercalli Intensity Values,” Journal of Earthquake Engineering, 15: 1138–1155.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yaghmaei-Sabegh S and Tsang H-H (2011), “An Updated Study on Near-Fault Ground Motions of 1978 Tabas, Iran, Earthquake (Mw = 7.4),” Scientia Iranica, Transaction A: Civil Engineering, 18: 895–905.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yaghmaei-Sabegh S (2013), “Analysis of Applicability of Seismic Intensity Estimation Using Fourier Spectrum of Ground Motions for Iranian Earthquakes,” Pure Appl. Geophys., 170: 597–606.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zaré M and Memarian H (2003), “Macroseismic Intensity and Attenuation laws: A Study on the Intensities of the Iranian Earthquakes of 1975–2000,” Fourth International Conference of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology, 12-14 May 2003, Tehran, Iran.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

The author gratefully acknowledges the contributions by Prof. Mehdi Zare for sharing some parts of macroseismic intensity data complied for Iran.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

    Saman Yaghmaei-Sabegh

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Tabriz, 29 Bahman Ave, Tabriz, 51666-16471, Iran

    Saman Yaghmaei-Sabegh

Authors
  1. Saman Yaghmaei-Sabegh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Saman Yaghmaei-Sabegh.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yaghmaei-Sabegh, S. Macroseismic intensity attenuation in Iran. Earthq. Eng. Eng. Vib. 17, 139–148 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11803-018-0430-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11803-018-0430-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation