Seismic Source Characterization

Abstract

Seismic sources characterization (SSC) relies on the interpretation and integration of a variety of parameters and data primarily collected in a geological, geophysical, geotechnical and seismological database (D4-41, Carbon et al. 2012). It has three fundamental objectives: The identification (location and geometry) of all seismic sources contributing to the total hazard at the site of interest. According to the seismotectonic context of the site, and to the considered hazard return period, this involves developing the database within a radius of a few hundred kilometres around the site and to consider different scales of analysis especially when individual faults are considered. The characterization of the seismic activity with a large number of uncertain parameters: the maximum magnitude of these seismic sources, their activity rate and the models for seismicity distribution. The consideration of all inherent epistemic and aleatory uncertainties and the influence of the different uncertainties in the hazard results.