Seismicity of the Bánát region

Abstract

In the seismic source zone of Bánát more than 600 earthquakes are known since 1773 among them six events with magnitude of 5.0–5.7 measured on the surface magnitude scale. The macroseismic reinterpretation of the April 2, 1901 earthquake yields epicentral intensity of VII on the European Macroseismic Scale, and a focal depth value of 12 km. Based on empirical relations the maximum rupture area is estimated as 50–55 km 2 and the maximum displacement along the fault is about 16 cm in the Bánát seismic zone due to the MS = 5.7 event occurred on July 12, 1991. The average recurrence that we may expect an earthquake of M ≥ 3.4 every 1 year, an earthquake of M ≥ 4.3 every 10 years and an earthquake of M ≥ 5.3 every 100 years in the studied source zone. The probabilistic seismic hazard assessment predicts 1.3–2.1 m/sec 2 peak ground accelerations, and 6.7–7.3 maximum (theoretical) earthquake intensity values with 10% chance of exceedance for an exposure time of 100 years in the region.