The earthquake environmental effects (EEEs) of the 6th February 2018, Hualien earthquake (Mw=6.4): A contribution to the seismic hazard estimation in the epicentral area

Abstract

The macroseismic intensity of the February 6, 2018, Mw 6.4, Hualien earthquake, which caused extensive damage around the Hualien area of eastern Taiwan is reassessed using the Environmental Seismic Intensity (ESI-07) scale. We compiled data on earthquake environmental effects (EEEs) caused by the 2018 Hualien earthquake, which includes surface ruptures, ground cracks, liquefaction, and occasional landslides, and estimated the epicentral intensity (I0) as well as site-specific intensities. We found that the ESI-07 epicentral intensity of the Hualien quake in 2018 is IX. We note that the epicentral area of the 2018 Hualien earthquake was the mesoseismal area of the October 22, 1951, (Mw 6.6) Hualien earthquake, as reported in primary contemporary sources and historical earthquake catalogs. The 1951 Hualien earthquakes also caused prominent surface ruptures, liquefaction, and ground cracks. Consequently, we reassess the macroseismic intensities of this historical seismic event and compare it to the Hualien earthquake in 2018. The comparison suggests similar epicentral intensities for the two earthquakes (IX and X ESI-07). Moreover, we conducted a systematic comparison between intensity obtained using different scales which revealed the differences of two to three degrees between the ESI-07 and traditional intensity scales. This result reconfirms the significance of documentation and recording of earthquake environmental effects to make intensity assessments for modern seismic events consistent with the historical earthquake records. Moreover, a re-evaluation of historical earthquake intensity in eastern Taiwan could be performed in order to update the seismic hazard map. Application of the ESI-07 intensity scale of recent and historical earthquakes will be helpful in post-earthquake recovery efforts for a future earthquake. The prepared ShakeMaps from the ESI-07 values suggests completely different shapes to the previously generated ShakeMaps considering the peak ground acceleration or peak ground velocity. It suggests that the ShakeMaps prepared from the earthquake environmental effects can be complemented with the instrumental based intensity map to have a better seismic hazard prediction and future land use planning for the region.