
Earthquake intensity attenuation pattern in the United States
Author(s) -
Kaila K. L.,
Sarkar Dipankar
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
geophysical journal of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.302
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1365-246X
pISSN - 0016-8009
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-246x.1982.tb06389.x
Subject(s) - attenuation , intensity (physics) , epicenter , geodesy , magnitude (astronomy) , seismology , geology , physics , geometry , mathematics , optics , astrophysics
Summary. Attenuation of earthquake intensities with epicentral distance was studied by analysing the intensity data for 39 earthquakes in the United States. Attenuation of MM intensity ( I ) with distance (Δ km) follows a simple relation of the type log I = log I 0 ‐ m Δ, where I 0 is the intensity at the epicentre and m is a constant. Slope m is found to be inversely proportional to the square of the focal depth. Intensity attenuation pattern in the United States in general can be represented by a unified relation I/I 0 = exp [‐(0.8999/ h 2 + 0.0014)Δ] where 16km ≤ h ≤ 60km. Intensities were calculated with the help of this equation and a good agreement with the observed intensities were found. A comparative study has also been made between the attenuation relations applicable to India and the United States.