ALBERT

Description:    In this paper, the applicability of the Newmark method at regional, sub-regional and site scales has been investigated in the Lorca Basin (Murcia). This basin is located in one of the most seismically active regions of Spain. The area is very interesting for studying earthquake-induced slope instabilities as there are well-known cases associated with specific earthquakes. For the regional and sub-regional scales, a geographic information system has been used to develop an implementation of Newmark sliding rigid block method. Soil and topographic amplification effects have been particularly considered. Subsequently, ‘Newmark displacement’ maps for deterministic seismic scenarios have been produced. Some specific studies have also been performed using limit equilibrium methods to estimate the safety factor and the critical acceleration of certain slope instabilities at a site scale. These instabilities were the rock slides related to recent seismic series at the Lorca Basin: 2002 Bullas ( M w  = 5.0) and 2005 La Paca ( M w  = 4.8). Finally, the safety factor, critical acceleration and Newmark displacement values estimated at different scales have been compared to determine which scale is most suitable for the Newmark method. Content Type Journal Article Pages 1-16 DOI 10.1007/s11069-011-9820-x Authors Martín Jesús Rodríguez-Peces, Departamento de Geodinámica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, C/Fuentenueva s/n, 18002 Granada, Spain José Luis Pérez-García, Departamento de Ingeniería Cartográfica, Geodésica y Fotogrametría, Universidad de Jaén, Campus de las Lagunillas, s/n. Edif. A3, 23071 Jaén, Spain Julián García-Mayordomo, Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (IGME), C/La Calera, 1, 28760 Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain José Miguel Azañón, Departamento de Geodinámica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, C/Fuentenueva s/n, 18002 Granada, Spain Juan Miguel Insua-Arévalo, Departamento de Geodinámica, Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain Jorge Delgado-García, Departamento de Ingeniería Cartográfica, Geodésica y Fotogrametría, Universidad de Jaén, Campus de las Lagunillas, s/n. Edif. A3, 23071 Jaén, Spain Journal Natural Hazards Online ISSN 1573-0840 Print ISSN 0921-030X