Crustal Events Research Articles

Source parameter and tectonic implications of small earthquakes originating in South India

A data collection of 80 local earthquakes (1.8 < ML < 3.5) recorded by several seismic stations beneath South India from February 2009 to October 2012 was studied to estimate the source parameter characteristics. The result shows that the seismic moments (M0) vary from 8.95×1011to 6.56×1013 Nm, while source radii (r) are between 120 and 150 m. The source radius seems to be independent of magnitude and smaller within a major part of the region. This can be due to local earthquakes that may originate in the region from either the brittle shear-failure mechanism on faults or the presence of weakened zones in this region. The estimated stress drops values range from 0.20 to 3 MPa for most of the events and shows an increasing trend with the seismic moment, indicating a wide range of strength of crustal rocks. Few lower crustal event exhibits slightly elevated stress drop (4–10 MPa) values, and these cannot be solely attributed to a single model; instead, it appears that the potential contributing factors vary area wise. The corner (fc) and high cut (fmax) frequency values are bit scattered with the seismic moment, and the possible explanation would be either a complex rupture process or the involvement of a long period spectrum in the component. Both fmax and fc show a decreasing trend against seismic moments, indicating that both are caused by a source process and independent of epicentral distances and focal depths. However, source displacement D(0.006 and 0.04 m) and radiated seismic energy (Es) increases linearly with the seismic moment and is an indication of the size dependency feature. We established various empirical relationships between source parameters, including MW - ML and log(M0) - ML and proposed the ML- MW relationship for the study region, which is MW∝ 0.62ML. Overall, the present study indicates that most source parameters tend to vary with the size of the earthquake and generally follow the global model of small magnitude earthquakes. The information, we gained through this study provides insight into earthquake size, source physics, and that can help the scientific community significantly, to better understand, mitigate, and respond to the seismic hazards posed by earthquakes in the studied area.

Spectral decomposition of ground motions in New Zealand using the generalized inversion technique

SUMMARY To gain new insights into ground-motion phenomena in New Zealand (NZ), we apply the non-parametric generalized inversion technique (GIT) in the Fourier domain to isolate the systematic source, path, and site effects from 20 813 seismograms, recorded by 693 sensors at 439 unique locations, from 1200 shallow crustal events (Mw &amp;gt; 3) during the period 2000–2021. From the inverted source spectra, we derive Brune's stress parameter, ∆σ, which is found to follow a lognormal distribution with a log10 standard deviation of 0.36 or equivalently 0.83 in natural log unit. ∆σ slightly increases with focal depth and is practically independent of earthquake size (i.e. self-similar), but displays a statistically significant spatial clustering. Based on the inverted attenuation, a trilinear geometric-spreading function, and a distance-dependent quality-factor Q(f) model are found to well describe the attenuation in NZ; though a single $Q( f )$ model is also obtained for the whole distance range: $Q( f ) = 149.1{f}^{0.62}$. Using the site response decomposed from GIT, we find that the soil classification scheme specified in NZ seismic code, NZS1170.5, has a limited capability in discerning the site-specific frequency-dependent amplification functions in comparison to a non-parametric clustering with the same number of discrete classes. The potential use of the spatial variation in source parameters from this GIT analysis in region-specific physics-based simulations is discussed.

Regional offshore ground motion prediction model from a referenced empirical approach: A case study in the Japan Trench area

With increasing resource exploitation and engineering construction offshore, the seismic safety of offshore structures has received attention from researchers and designers, and an offshore ground motion prediction model (GMPM) can be used to estimate the possible earthquake response of structures and provide the foundation for seismic fortification of structures. Because there are few strong motion records recorded by offshore stations, there are insufficient empirical data in the magnitude-distance range to directly develop a GMPM using empirical regression techniques. To develop a reliable GMPM for data-poor offshore regions, we used a referenced empirical approach based on an onshore empirical prediction model. We collected 2605 records from 138 crustal earthquake events, 2669 records from 125 slab earthquake events and 5693 records from 267 interface earthquake events recorded by S-net stations. We used the existing Japanese onshore GMPM as a reference model. Then, we analyzed the residuals of the reference model for offshore data and calculated its adjustment factors. Finally, we developed a GMPM for the Japan Trench area and compared it with the existing onshore models. The proposed model fit the data subsets at hypocentral distances of 20–300 km reasonably well. There were different spectral accelerations (SAs) for different source types, with considerably larger SAs for short periods of offshore motions from crustal events than for the motions from the other two types, and the difference becomes more obvious with the increase of magnitude. At short periods, the SAs of the offshore motions from slab events were slightly larger than those of the motions from the interface events. The discrepancy of the offshore and onshore GMPM was significant, and the peak ground accelerations (PGAs) and SAs of the offshore ground motions were apparently greater than those of onshore ground motions of the same magnitude and distance. The offshore GMPM established by the reference empirical approach contribute to studying the characteristics of offshore strong ground motions, and this approach can be applied to data-poor regions.

Ground-Motion Model (GMM) for Crustal Earthquakes in Northern South America (NoSAm Crustal GMM)

ABSTRACT Crustal earthquakes are some of the main contributors to the seismic hazard in northern South America (NoSAm). There is evidence of historical crustal events with epicenters near populated cities, such as the 1999 Mw 6.2 Coffee Region earthquake, whose damages added up to 1.9% of Colombia’s gross domestic product and reported about 1200 deaths. Because the global crustal ground-motion models (GMMs) routinely used in seismic hazard assessments of the region are biased with respect to the available ground-motion records, this article presents a regional GMM developed using local data from earthquakes in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. The filtered database contains 709 triaxial records from 56 earthquakes, recorded at 92 stations between 1994 and 2020 by the Colombian Geological Survey. The moment magnitudes of the events range between 4.5 and 6.8, with hypocentral depths ≤60 km. The model covers rupture distances ≤350 km. The model site amplification is based on a categorization approach relying on the predominant site period, identified through the horizontal-to-vertical response ratios of 5%-damped response spectra. The proposed GMM is developed as a regionalization of the global Next Generation Attenuation-West2 Project ASK14 model. Our model corrects the misfit of the ASK14 GMM with respect to the observed ground-motion data in NoSAm for moderate magnitudes and intermediate to large distances while keeping the extrapolation capabilities. The proposed GMM considers the added attenuation for ray paths crossing the volcanic arc. Analysis of the variance components allows approximating plausible reductions of the standard deviation in future nonergodic models.

Model of focus zone and depth of crust seismic events

On the basis of analysis of station residuals and dependence of square mean residuals from depth impossible the presence of a focus model of crust tectonic events constructed from rupture discontinuity developing from single point is shown. Collection of arrivals of each seismic event raised from different depths is shown. Point emission of seismic waves forming arrivals are lying along line structures in timespace. All arrivals of a given seismic event situated along its own line structures. These line structures are called rupture lines. Rupture velocity is higher than P-wave velocity along the rupture line. This means that causal linkages are not present between sequences of rupturing movements. Rupture lines starting from the surface, cross-crust and continue into the upper mantle. A new model of focus zone that consists of several small focuses is proposed. The last are flat traditional focuses developed from a single point. Rupture line is an enveloping of the focuses in time-space. This article is a first of the collection of four parts that describe algorithm and software realization to determine depth of crustal events automatically.

Geodynamic controls in the southernmost Northern Andes magmatic arc: Trace elements and Hf-O isotopic systematics in forearc detrital zircon

U-Pb dating of single detrital zircon grains by laser ablation−inductively coupled plasma−mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) paired with Hf and O isotopic and trace-element analyses provide first-order indicators of the Late Cretaceous−Cenozoic evolution of the southern Ecuadorian magmatic arc. Detrital zircon U-Pb ages define significant clusters that are tentatively interpreted as intense arc magmatism at ca. 72 Ma, ca. 60 Ma, and ca. 43 Ma. A major accretionary event in the Late Cretaceous (75−65 Ma) is marked by a broad range of zircon isotopic values (εHf[t] &amp;gt; 20 and δ18O &amp;gt; 8‰) that suggest melting of both the lower and upper crust (most likely of continental affinity) as well as enriched mantle components. Highly fractionated signatures in trace-element patterns and Eu/Eu* combined with mantle-like δ18O and juvenile εHf values characterize zircons from 60 to 45 Ma, suggesting that the Late Cretaceous−middle Eocene arc originated from an enriched mantle and likely reflects the persistence of overthickened crust previously attributed to the main Late Cretaceous accretionary period. Subsequently, negative shifts in εHf(t) isotopic composition from 45 to 30 Ma are paired with mantle-like δ18O values as well as decreases in U/Yb and Eu/Eu*. These signatures could be attributed to magma emplacement in a thinner crust and the existence of a broad extensional magmatic arc extending from the current forearc toward areas near the craton; however, other scenarios cannot be excluded. This event was characterized by enriched mantle melt sources with residence times pointing to known crustal events (Sunsás) in the Amazonian craton. From 30 to 10 Ma, the isotopic record slightly evolved toward a depleted mantle signature with a substantial increase in fractionation. Our results combined with previously published isotopic records from detrital zircon grains found in modern rivers suggest that, for at least the last 30 m.y., the southernmost Northern Andes magmatic arc has been segmented, with the emplacement of juvenile magmas to the north and more enriched magmas related to the recycling of ancient continental crust and/or subducted sediments to the south—aspects found in other Northern Andes settings in which the continental arc was constructed in both oceanic and continental crust.

Proposed seismic design parameters for the moment-resisting knee-braced frame system

This paper proposes and verifies the seismic design parameters, including overstrength-related force modification factor, ductility-related force modification factor, deflection amplification factor, and design period, for the steel Moment-resisting Knee-braced Frame (MKF) system. The building selected in this study is an office located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in which MKFs act as the lateral load-resisting system. 14 prototype frames spanning a wide range of geometrical configurations are designed following the requirements of the 2015 National Building Code (2015 NBC) of Canada. Nonlinear static analyses are carried out on the prototype frames to determine the preliminary ductility and overstrength factors. Six new MKFs (assessment frames) are designed using the proposed overstrength and ductility factors, and their seismic and collapse performances are examined by comprehensive numerical analyses, considering the effects of the potential sources of ground motion expected on the Canadian west coast, namely subduction intraslab, subduction interface and shallow crustal events. The results of this study suggest that the MKF system shall be designed as a moderately ductile system using overstrength and ductility factors of 1.60 and 3.0, respectively, with a height not exceeding 40 m in regions of high seismicity.

Correlation between Seismic Waves Velocity Changes and the Occurrence of Moderate Earthquakes at the Bending of the Eastern Carpathians (Vrancea)

Seismic velocity is the geophysical property that has a key role in characterizing dynamic processes and the state of the stress around the faults, providing valuable information regarding the change in the tectonic regime. The stress in the crust is an important indicator of the possible occurrence of a major earthquake, and the variation of seismic velocities, in time, can provide a clearer picture on the tectonic processes taking place in the region. In the crust, velocities change before, during, and after earthquakes through several mechanisms related to fault deformations, pore pressure, stress changes, and recovery processes. In this study, we investigate the possible correlation between the changes of seismic velocities (Vp/Vs) in time and the occurrence of moderate size crustal and intermediate depth earthquakes from the Vrancea region. Our findings show that there are no significant variations in Vp/Vs for the intermediate depth earthquakes, while crustal events have decreased seismic activity prior to the main earthquake and no high Vp/Vs anomalies. Our results indicate key aspects, and such analyses should be carried out in real-time to continuously explore any unusual pattern pointed out by the seismic velocity changes. Vp/Vs and their standard errors can also be used to describe seismic activity patterns that shape the tectonic evolution of the area.

Source Parameters of the Mw 5.7 Pica Crustal Earthquake in Northern Chile

Abstract On 10 September, 2008, an Mw 5.7 earthquake occurred under the Central Valley of northern Chile near the town of Pica at a depth of ∼33 km within the continental crust of the South America plate. We find this earthquake to be a high stress-drop, reverse-oblique event that generated unusually high ground accelerations of up to 0.67g. Overall, its observed ground motion intensities are considerably larger than those predicted by ground motion models, particularly at short periods. The source properties inferred through waveform modeling indicate reverse-oblique fault motion on a ∼75 km2 plane dipping to the northeast, which is corroborated by the located aftershock distribution. Stress-drop values of the mainshock and larger aftershocks were estimated through S-wave spectrum modeling, with values up to ∼250 MPa for the mainshock. The event occurred in a cold section of the continental crust under the Central Valley, and its fault kinematics and orientation are consistent with the dominant style of faulting and stress field under the neighboring Coastal Cordillera. Although our recurrence analysis shows that crustal events in the region occur at a lower rate than interplate and inslab events, crustal events of similar or higher magnitude than the Pica earthquake have occurred, on average, approximately once every three years in northern Chile, which could pose an important hazard to nearby populations or critical infrastructure.

Geochronology and Zircon Hf Isotope of the Paleoproterozoic Gaixian Formation in the Southeastern Liaodong Peninsula: Implication for the Tectonic Evolution of the Jiao-Liao-Ji Belt

The Jiao-Liao-Ji belt (JLJB), in the Eastern Block of the North China Craton, is a major Paleoproterozoic orogen and underwent a complicated tectonic evolution during 2.2–1.8 Ga. The Liaohe Group, an important stratigraphic unit in the JLJB, is key to understanding the complex evolution of this belt. In this paper, we present new detrital zircon U–Pb ages and Hf isotope data for meta-sedimentary rocks from the Gaixian Formation in different areas of the JLJB, in addition to compiled data for other formations of the Liaohe Group, to establish the depositional age and source of detrital materials of the group. U–Pb age results show that the age ranges of zircons from the different samples are broadly similar. The youngest zircon group is ca. 2.06 Ga, and the youngest single-grain age is ca. 2.0 Ga, constraining the depositional age of the Gaixian Formation to between 2.0 Ga and the metamorphic age of ca. 1.9 Ga. The zircon age data indicate that the provenance was primarily Archaean basement of the Nangrim Block and Paleoproterozoic volcanic rocks of the Li’eryu Formation. On the basis of the new geochronological data and results from previous studies, it is inferred that the JLJB underwent a successive process of rifting–subduction–collision, with the different formations of the Liaohe Group being deposited in different stages from rift to passive continental margin and then to active continental margin. Zircon Hf isotope data from the JLJB and adjoining Longgang and Nangrim blocks indicate that a major crustal growth event occurred at 2.9–2.5 Ga, followed by crustal growth and intense recycling of ancient crust at ca. 2.2 Ga.

On the influence of deep seismicity on the preparation of large earthquakes in the South-Asian region

The change dynamics in the creepex parameter over time and its comparison with changes in other earthquake parameters (magnitude and depth) is used to test the thesis about the influence on strong crustal events from deep processes associated with the transformation and movement of matter in the upper mantle using the example of the seismicity of the South-Asian region.

Generic-To-Reference Rock Scaling Factors for Seismic Ground Motion in Italy

ABSTRACT In this article, we apply the reference-rock identification method (RRIM; Lanzano et al., 2020) to the ITalian ACcelerometric Archive, which includes more than 1600 recording stations in Italy and in the neighboring countries, with different levels of site characterization. The RRIM is based on the identification and the evaluation of site parameters representing the reference site conditions (Steidl et al., 1996) and the construction of the scoring scheme to classify the candidate stations. Given the large number of sites, the preselection of candidates is performed via residual analysis, selecting those characterized by flat site response and amplitude similar or lower than the one for the generic rock (average shear-wave velocity in the uppermost 30 m, VS30=800 m/s). The main results of this study are: (1) a list of reference rock sites in Italy, with an associated score; (2) a scenario-independent generic-to-reference rock corrective factor for the ground-motion model for shallow active crustal events in Italy (ITA18; Lanzano, Luzi, et al., 2019); (3) a model for the generic-to-reference rock corrective factor, parametrized in terms of VS30 and κ0, that is, the high-frequency decay parameter (Anderson and Hough, 1984). A collateral product is a set of coefficients for the prediction of 81 ordinates of the Fourier amplitude spectra (FAS) in the frequency interval 0.1–30 Hz, calibrated with the same dataset and functional form of ITA18 for acceleration response spectra (SA). The application of RRIM allowed us to identify 116 stations with average measured VS30∼900 m/s. The corrective factor allows to scale both SA and FAS spectra, and has a significant effect at high frequencies, reducing the ground motion by up to a factor 1.7 at f = 10 Hz. The introduction of κ0 in the corrective term modeling is effective from 2 Hz onward and results in a reduction of variability at high frequencies (f &amp;gt; 10 Hz).

Tectonic Context and Possible Triggering of the 2019–2020 Puerto Rico Earthquake Sequence

Abstract An historically unprecedented seismic moment was released by crustal events of the 2019–2020 earthquake sequence near southwest Puerto Rico. The sequence involved at least two, and perhaps three interacting fault systems. The largest Mw 6.4 event was likely triggered by left lateral strike-slip events along the eastern extension of the North Boquerón Bay-Punta Montalva fault zone. The mainshock occurred in a normal fault zone that extends into a region where previous studies documented extensional deformation, beyond the Ponce fault and the Bajo Tasmanian fault. Coulomb stress changes by the mainshock may have triggered further normal-faulting aftershocks, left lateral strike-slip events in the region where these two fault zones interacted, and possibly right lateral strike-slip aftershocks along a third structure extending southward, the Guayanilla fault zone. Extension directions of the seismic sequence are consistently north-northwest–south-southeast-oriented, in agreement with the Global Navigation Satellite Systems-inferred motion direction of eastern Hispaniola relative to western Puerto Rico, and with crustal stress estimates for the overriding plate boundary zone.

A Detailed Earthquake Catalog for Banda Arc–Australian Plate Collision Zone Using Machine-Learning Phase Picker and an Automated Workflow

Abstract The tectonic setting of Timor–Leste and Eastern Indonesia comprises of a complex transition from oceanic lithosphere subduction to arc-continental collision. To better understand the deformation and convergent-zone structure of the region, we derive a new catalog of earthquake hypocenters and magnitudes from a temporary deployment of five years of continuous seismic data using an automated processing procedure. This includes a machine-learning phase picker, EQTransformer, and a sequential earthquake association and location workflow. We detect and locate ∼19,000 events during 2014–2018, which demonstrates that it is possible to characterize earthquake sequences from raw seismic data using a well-trained machine-learning picker for a complex convergent plate setting. This study provides the most complete catalog available for the region for the duration of the temporary deployment, which includes a complex pattern of crustal events across the collision zone and into the back-arc, as well as abundant deep slab seismicity.

Moment tensor inversion of microearthquakes along the Santorini-Amorgos zone: Tensile faulting and emerging volcanism in an extensional setting

The Santorini-Amorgos zone is an area rich in microseismicity at the center of the Hellenic volcanic arc. The microseismicity of the zone is distributed along the Santorini-Amorgos ridge and Kolumbo submarine volcano. In this study, we utilized crustal events that were recorded by temporary networks during September 2002 to July 2004 and October 2005 to March 2007, and also by the permanent network from 2011 to 2020. These events were inverted for their moment tensors by using P-wave polarities as well as SV/P and SH/P amplitude ratios, yielding 74 well-constrained moment tensor solutions. Most of these moment tensors have significant CLVD and isotropic components that are positively correlated to each other (R2 = 0.68). Tensile faulting due to high pore pressure is considered as the most likely cause of the observed non-DC components. The positive and negative non-DC components observed in Kolumbo may be generated by the opening and closing of cracks beneath the shallow (6–7 km) magma chamber due to a steady migration of magmatic fluids from the deep reservoir into the chamber. In Anydros, most of the microearthquakes have positive non-DC components associated with the opening of cracks. It is possible that the extensional deformation and high pore fluid pressure in the area opens subvertical cracks that become pathways for upward migrating fluids. The upward migration of magmatic fluids in an extensional regime such as the Santorini-Amorgos zone can also be viewed as an indication of emerging volcanic activity in this area.

Ground-Motion Model for Crustal Events in Italy by Applying the Multisource Geographically Weighted Regression (MS-GWR) Method

ABSTRACT In this article, we implement a new approach to calibrate ground-motion models (GMMs) characterized by spatially varying coefficients, using the calibration dataset of an existing GMM for crustal events in Italy. The model is developed in the methodological framework of the multisource geographically weighted regression (MS-GWR, Caramenti et al., 2020), which extends the theory of multiple linear regression to the case with model coefficients that are spatially varying, thus allowing for capturing the multiple sources of nonstationarity in ground motion related to event and station locations. In this way, we reach the aim of regionalizing the ground motion in Italy by specializing the model in a nonergodic framework. Such an attempt at regionalization also addresses the purpose of capturing the regional effects in the modeling, which is needed for the Italian country, where ground-motion properties vary significantly across space. Because the proposed model relies on the italian GMM (ITA18) (Lanzano et al., 2019) dataset and functional form, it could be considered the ITA18 nonstationary version, thus allowing one to predict peak ground acceleration and velocity, as well as 36 ordinates of the 5%-damped acceleration response spectra in the period interval T=0.01–10 s. The resulting MS-GWR model shows an improved ability to predict the ground motion locally, compared with stationary ITA18, leading to a significant reduction of the total variability at all periods of about 15%–20%. The article also provides scenario-dependent uncertainties associated with the median predictions to be used as a part of the epistemic uncertainty in the context of probabilistic seismic hazard analyses. Results show that the approach is promising for improving the model predictions, especially on densely sampled areas, although further studies are necessary to resolve the observed trade-off inherent to site and path effects, which limits their physical interpretation.

Crustal structure of the northern Andean Precordillera, Argentina, based on seismological and gravity data

This paper aims to better comprehend the crustal structure of the Precordillera and the Iglesia Valley. Located in the northern sector of the Pampean flat-slab (San Juan, Argentina), this region was the epicenter of the historical 1894, M > 7 earthquake (intensity IX on the modified Mercalli scale) and thus considered as a region of particularly high seismic hazard. The structure and deformation style associated with such events remain poorly understood.In this study, we analyze 4 months of regional seismic records from national and international stations in order to characterize a sequence of 74 crustal events that followed the occurrence of an intermediate magnitude (MW = 4.8 and ML = 5.2) earthquake on October 28th, 2019 for which we constrain the source parameters using regional moment tensor inversion.The analysis also includes the determination of 11 focal mechanisms from P-wave polarities and P–S waves amplitude ratios. Most of the focal mechanisms indicate reverse motion solutions.Seismological results are then integrated with other geophysics (gravity and seismic reflection profiles) as well as geological data, to build a 3D structural model that allows a better understanding of the crustal deformation mechanisms of the study area.Our results suggest that the seismic deformation is mostly concentrated in the basement of the Western Precordillera, at the transition with the Frontal Cordillera. This deformation seems respond to compressional stresses. The proposed model provides evidence of ongoing seismic activity related to the interaction between the thick-skinned deformation of the Frontal Cordillera with the thin-skinned fold and thrust belt of the Western Precordillera.

Insights into the tectonostratigraphic setting of the Southern Appalachians during the Blountian tectophase from an integrated geochemical analysis of magmatic phenocrysts in the Ordovician Deicke K-bentonite

We evaluate competing hypotheses regarding tectonic models of the early Taconic Orogeny in the Southern Appalachians during the Blountian tectophase with new geochemical data obtained from analyses of apatite and zircon phenocrysts, and melt and mineral inclusions therein, from the Ordovician Deicke K-bentonite (453.35 ± 0.10 Ma). Apatite geochemistry confirms that samples from different locations represent the same eruptive event, and zircon geochemistry and UPb geochronology (including several Grenville-age inherited detrital cores) confirm an evolved magma of continental-arc composition, with the trace-metal geochemistry of magmatic Taconic-age rims on Deicke zircons pointing to a provenance of continental crustal igneous rock melts, specifically a granitic melt with a high level of differentiation, rather than a melt that was mantle-derived, or strongly mantle-influenced. Melt inclusions within Deicke phenocrysts are dacitic (apatite) to rhyolitic (zircon), differences that imply an evolving Deicke magma during its eruption.Our data 1) indicate multiple crustal events, and 2) are tectono-chemical evidence supporting an arc-trench subduction system where subducting preexisting sedimentary rocks were subsequently incorporated into the melt during or prior to collision. Indonesia provides modern analogs: the Banda Arc system, where Australian continental crust is jamming the subduction zone in association with the development of a foreland basin and a sedimentary wedge; the New Guinea – western Melanesian region, with its orogenic highlands and associated foredeep; and the Sumatra –Toba system, where subduction-related explosive volcanism has generated enormous caldera-forming eruptions above continental crust basement. Thus, a model for closure of the Iapetus Ocean involving subduction of older passive margin sediments as part of an island-arc collision with the Laurentian passive margin is acceptable, but models based on a back-arc basin are not compatible with our data.

Selection and Modification of Ground Motion Prediction Equations for Makran Subduction Zone, Southeast Iran

The Iranian Plateau is considered mostly as a shallow crustal area, except the Makran region in southeast Iran where subduction events can occur. Because of the tectonic characteristics of the Makran subduction zone, different categories of ground motion prediction equations (GMPEs) are required for seismic hazard assessment, including GMPEs for shallow crustal events and subduction zone earthquakes (both in-slab and interface events). To show the applicability of candidate GMPEs, a selected dataset consisting of 314 records from 80 earthquakes is used for statistical analyses and modification of the candidate GMPEs. The earthquakes in the studied area are classified into two groups: shallow (events with focal depth less than 40 km; including 67 events and 210 records) and in-slab (events with focal depth more than 40 km; 13 events and 104 records). There are no recorded instrumental data in the region for the interface earthquakes. About ten GMPEs (developed based on local, regional, and global data) for shallow earthquakes are initial candidates for selection and modification in the studied region. In addition, four relationships are used in the statistical analyses for in-slab events. Different statistical analyses have been applied to show the performance of GMPEs and their applicability for the region. The results show that the modification term applied in the GMPEs improved the applicability of the relations significantly. The results are very important for the assessment of seismic hazard in the Makran region and other neighborhood countries, i.e., Oman and United Arab Emirates. Finally, a new model for vertical-to-horizontal spectral ratio has been proposed for the studied region that helps us to obtain vertical design spectra from horizontal spectra and their predominant scenarios resulting from seismic hazard analyses.

Duration prediction of Chilean strong motion data using machine learning

Chile is rocked by inslab, interface as well as crustal events. Duration estimates based on Chilean strong motion flatfile is used to predict total duration as well as significant-duration. We use six different machine learning algorithms k-nearest neighbours, support vector machine, Random forest, Neural network, AdaBoost, decision tree and estimate the accuracies of prediction for each component (EW, NS, Z) of ground motion for different tectonic environments. The estimates of duration using machine learning are found to be quite accurate and the best performing machine learning algorithm in prediction of the total duration and the significant-duration are highlighted.