Open AccessReassessing the New Madrid Seismic Zone
Author(s) -
Atkinson Gail,
Bakun Bill,
Bodin Paul,
Boore David,
Camer Chris,
Frankel Art,
Gasperini Paulo,
Gomberg Joan,
Hanks Tom,
Hermann Bob,
Hough Susan,
Johnston Arch,
Kenner Shelley,
Langston Chuck,
Linker Mark,
Mayne Paul,
Petersen Mark,
Powell Christine,
Prescott Will,
Schweig Eugene,
Segall Paul,
Stein Seth,
Stuart Bill,
Tuttle Martitia,
VanArsdale Roy
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/00eo00294
Subject(s) - seismology , seismic zone , seismic hazard , geology , hazard , tectonics , plate tectonics , induced seismicity , chemistry , organic chemistry
The central enigma of the mid‐continent region in the United States known as the New Madrid seismic zone (NMSZ; Figure 1) involves the mechanisms that give rise to recurrent great earthquakes far from plate boundaries. Given the lack of significant topographic relief that is the hallmark of tectonic activity in most actively deforming regions, most of us feel a need to “pinch ourselves to see if we're dreaming” when confronted with evidence that, at some probability levels, the earthquake hazard throughout the NMSZ is comparable to that estimated for the San Francisco Bay region. Although assessing the hazard in the NMSZ is in many ways more challenging than in the western United States, and the uncertainties are much greater, careful scientific study has led to a consensus on the issues most critical to seismic hazard assessment.