ALBERT

Description: The seismicity data file used for this study is represented by the earthquake catalogue CENEC for Europe north of 44°N (Grünthal et al. 2009a). This paper describes in detail how this homogeneous data file in terms of moment magnitudes Mw (with Mw greater than 3.5) has been derived. The degree of harmonization achieved in CENEC is quantitatively analysed in Grünthal et al. (2009b).

Description: The SHARE European Earthquake Catalogue (SHEEC) 1900-2006 has been compiled by GFZ Potsdam in the frame of an independant project and represents a temporal and spatial excerpt of "The European-Mediterranean Earthquake Catalogue" (EMEC) for the last millennium (Grünthal & Wahlström, 2012) with a few modifications, which are described in Grünthal et al. (2013). It was compiled under the coordination of INGV, Milan. It builds on the data contained in AHEAD (Archive of Historical Earthquake Data) and with the methodology developed in the frame of the I3, EC project "Network of Research Infrastructures for European Seismology" (NERIES), module NA4. The catalogue (SHEEC) 1000-1899 and the Greek part of 1900-2006 have been partially supported by the EC 7th framework programme project SHARE. Background Information The SHARE European Earthquake Catalogue (SHEEC) 1900-2006 is basically an excerpt of the European-Mediterranean Earthquake Catalogue (EMEC) by Grünthal & Wahlström (2012), the latter covering also historical time in a larger area. Minor differences between SHEEC and EMEC in this time period are described by Grünthal et al. (2013). In both catalogues., the magnitudes threshold is Mw = 3.5 for earthquake locations at latitudes ≥ 44° N and Mw = 4.0 at latitudes 〈 44° N. The parameters of the catalogue have been determined by: - special algorithms to select one out of several possible focal parameter solutions - location, time, depth (optional), Mw magnitude, and intensity - if given by different sources - transformation equations to calculate Mw, if not original, from other magnitude types according to a strict hierarchy - routines to eliminate fake and other non-tectonic events, and to avoid duplicates

Description: The purpose of this study is to refine the probabilistic seismic hazard assessment for Vanuatu. The analysis is complicated by inconsistencies of the global and local data for the investigated region and systematic inadequacies of the attenuation relation available. An additional aspect in the field of which more research would be desirable is the de-clustering algorithm for the identification of dependent earthquakes. In order to quantify the inevitable uncertainties associated with our results, we used a Logic Tree approach. The report is subdivided into seven chapters. Chapter 2 summarises the geology and tectonic setting of the Vanuatu island arc. Prior scientific investigations will be sketched briefly and to the degree to which they are relevant for our further considerations. The consecutive Chapter 3 describes the different data sources used for the calculations. Together, the local earthquake catalogue provided by the IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le D´eveloppement) and the global catalogues constitute a comprehensive data base for the region. The homogenisation of different catalogues required the conversion of magnitudes through maximum likelihood regressions. Chapter 4 gives a brief overview over the methodological concept applied. The implementation of the Cornell methodology involves two key steps: The first step is to construct a seismicity model (Chapter 5) including the definition of source zones and seismicity parameters characterising the level and type of activity in the respective zone. The second step is to determine an appropriate attenuation relation for the earthquake-generated ground motion in dependence of magnitude and distance. Chapter 6 compares several attenuation relations from the recent geophysical literature. We argue that the modeling of attenuation is the weakest link in this analysis and the major source of uncertainty. The new seismic hazard maps are presented and discussed in Chapter 7. The map that we consider to be the most relevant is also shown on the inner title page of this report. Our findings indicate that the seismic hazard in Vanuatu has been underestimated by prior assessments such as the Global Seismic Hazard Assessment Programme GSHAP (cf. Fig. 1.1).

Description: The paper consists of two main elements: (1) the creation of a harmonized seismicity data file for the eastern Mediterranean area and the generation of a classical timeindependent PSHA, and (2) the extension of the earthquake model of the timeindependent approach to a newly developed time‐dependent PSHA and the comparison with the results of (1).

Description: Fast polarization directions α of split SKS waves in Central Europe change from NE/ENE in the western part to dominatingly E/ESE orientation towards north and east. This coincides strikingly well with the dominating trend of Hercynian deformational crustal features. It hints to frozen anisotropy related to paleo-crustal fabric. But when considering plausible anisotropy values of about 2–3% then only a small fraction (δt 〈 0.3 s) of the rather large observed average delay-times (δt = 0.83 ± 0.31 s) between the two split waves could be attributed to structural anisotropy in the relatively thin Central European crust. Therefore, the main “anisotropy signal” has to be associated with lattice-preferred orientation (LPO) of olivine below the crust. It may be either frozen in the subcrustal lithosphere since Hercynian times or have developed more recently in the asthenosphere. The thickness of the lithosphere varies significantly beneath Europe and the depth contours show systematic changes in trend. The latter varies from dominatingly NE in the southwest to SE in the north and east. The polarization directions α of the fast split SKS waves observed at seismic stations in proximity to the southern and northeastern boundaries of Central Europe are subparallel to the trends of these strong anomalies in lithosphere topography. A causal relationship is assumed and a new model proposed to explain the observations in α and δt. It takes into account the possible effects of paleo-deformational events. They may have produced both anisotropic crustal fabric and probably still preserved and similarly trending frozen LPO in the subcrustal lithosphere. The model also considers the influence of recent absolute motion of the West European lithospheric plate towards NE and the effect of its pronounced lower boundary topography on the formation and trend of LPO in the asthenosphere. Accordingly, the effects of anisotropy of different nature and age at different depth levels but with similar trend may superimpose constructively. This could explain the rather large delay-times observed at Central European stations which are too large to be attributed to frozen anisotropy in the lithosphere alone. The model would even permit the total effect observed to be attributed to asthenosphere flow controlled by absolute plate motion direction and lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary topography.

Description: The Scientific Technical Report describes supplementary material to the publication by Grünthal et al. (2018) on the earthquake model for the probabilistic seismic hazard assessment (PSHA) of Germany, version 2016. In particular, it contains detailed information, additional figures, tables and electronic data concerning seismicity, seismic source zone models, maximum magnitudes, seismicity rates of the seismic source zones, model data related to distributions of focal depth and tectonic regime parameters. It also supplies seismic hazard maps for Germany with a broad range of parametrizations.

Description: A Databank was created using data from 25 local catalogues and 30 special studies of earthquakes in central, northern and northwestern Europe. Event types were discriminated, fake events and duplets eliminated, and different magnitudes and intensities converted to Mw. The conversions require the establishment of regression equations. The Catalogue contains tectonic events from the Databank within the area 44°N-72°N, 25°W-32°E and the time period 1300-1993 which have Mw magnitudes of 3.50 and larger. The area is covered by different polygons. Within each polygon only data from one or a small number of the local catalogues, supplemented by data from special studies, enter the Catalogue. If there are two or more such catalogues or studies providing a solution for an event, a priority algorithm selects one entry for the Catalogue. Then Mw is calculated from one of the magnitude types, or from macroseismic data, given by the selected entry according to another priority scheme. The origin time, location, Mw magnitude and reference are specified for each entry of the Catalogue. So is the epicentral intensity, I0, if provided by the original source. Following these criteria, a total of about 5,000 earthquakes constitute the Catalogue. Although originally derived for the purpose of seismic hazard calculation within GSHAP, the Catalogue provides a data base for many types of seismicity and seismic hazard studies.

Description: Der Vergleich der neuen Erdbebengefährdungskarten für die Schweiz, Deutschland, Österreich und für Frankreich, die für die Nationalen Anhänge zum Eurocode 8 entwickelt wurden, ist Gegenstand dieser Studie. Die vorgestellte gemeinsame Karte überdeckt den südlichen Teil Deutschlands samt angrenzender Gebiete der genannten Nachbarländer. Die Parametrisierung der Karte erfolgt für die Spitzenbodenbeschleunigung, für eine mittlere Wiederholungsperiode von 475 Jahren, für MedianWerte und für einen Untergrund mit einer mittleren Scherwellengeschwindigkeit der obersten 30 m von 800 m/s. Entlang des Grenzverlaufs zwischen Deutschland und den südlichen Nachbarländern zeigen die Konturlinien der unabhängig voneinander berechneten Erdbebengefährdungskarten insgesamt eine erstaunlich gute Übereinstimmung. Das gilt insbesondere für Gebiete relativ erhöhter Erdbebengefährdung. Diese gute bis sehr gute Übereinstimmung kann als Indiz für die Belastbarkeit der Einschätzungen angesehen werden.

Description: The main input data of the earthquake model for the probabilistic seismic hazard assessment of Germany, version 2016, are provided in form of: (1) the geometry of five areal source zone models and one composite fault model for the Lower Rhine graben (ESRI shape files) and (2) the seismicity rates of all sources given as Mmax-depending Gutenberg-Richter parameters a and b with their uncertainties (EXCEL and csv files).The assignment of individual sources to the superzone models of Mmax, b-value, depth, tectonic regime and smoothing kernel arer described in the accompanying Scientific Technical Report Data (Grünthal et al. 2017).