Peak Ground Acceleration

Peak ground acceleration - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_ground_acceleration
Peak ground acceleration

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Peak ground acceleration (PGA) is a measure of earthquake acceleration on the ground and an
important input parameter for earthquake engineering, also known as the design basis
earthquake ground motion (DBEGM)[1]
Unlike the Richter and moment magnitude scales, it is not a measure of the total energy
(magnitude, or size) of an earthquake, but rather of how hard the earth shakes in a given
geographic area (the intensity). The Mercalli intensity scale uses personal reports and observations
to measure earthquake intensity but PGA is measured by instruments, such as accelerographs, and
it generally correlates well with the Mercalli scale.[2] See also seismic scale.
The peak horizontal acceleration (PHA) is the most commonly used type of ground acceleration in
engineering applications, and is used to set building codes and design hazard risks. In an
earthquake, damage to buildings and infrastructure is related more closely to ground motion,
rather than the magnitude of the earthquake. For moderate earthquakes, PGA is the best
determinate of damage; in severe earthquakes, damage is more often correlated with peak ground
velocity.[2]
Contents
1 Geophysics
2 Seismic risk and engineering
3 Comparison of instrumental and felt intensity
3.1 Correlation with the Mercalli scale
3.2 Other intensity scales
4 PGA hazard risks worldwide
5 Notable earthquakes
6 See also
7 References
8 Bibliography
Geophysics
Earthquake energy is dispersed in waves from the epicentre, causing ground movement
horizontally (in two directions) and vertically. PGA records the acceleration (rate of change of
speed) of these movements, while peak ground velocity is the greatest speed (rate of movement)
reached by the ground, and peak displacement is the distance moved.[3][4] These values vary in
different earthquakes, and in differing sites within one earthquake event, depending on a number
of factors. These include the length of the fault, magnitude, the depth of the quake, the distance
from the epicentre, the duration (length of the shake cycle), and the geology of the ground
(subsurface). Shallow-focused earthquakes generate stronger shaking (acceleration) than
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intermediate and deep quakes, since the energy is released closer to the surface.[5]
Peak ground acceleration can be expressed in g (the acceleration due to Earth's gravity, equivalent
to g-force) as either a decimal or percentage; in m/s2 (1 g = 9.81 m/s2);[3] or in Gal,
Gal where 1 Gal
is equal to 0.01 m/s (1 g = 981 Gal).
The ground type can significantly influence ground acceleration, so PGA values can display
extreme variability over distances of a few kilometers, particularly with moderate to large
earthquakes.[6] The varying PGA results from an earthquake can be displayed on a shake map.[7]
Due to the complex conditions affecting PGA, earthquakes of similar magnitude can offer disparate
results, with many moderate magnitude earthquakes generating significantly larger PGA values
than larger magnitude quakes.
During an earthquake, ground acceleration is measured in three directions: vertically (V or UD, for
up-down) and two perpendicular horizontal directions (H1 and H2), often north-south (NS) and
east-west (EW). The peak acceleration in each of these directions is recorded, with the highest
individual value often reported. Alternatively, a combined value for a given station can be noted.
The peak horizontal ground acceleration (PHA or PHGA) can be reached by selecting the higher
individual recording, taking the mean of the two values, or calculating a vector sum of the two
components. A three-component value can also be reached, by taking the vertical component into
consideration also.
In seismic engineering, the effective peak acceleration (EPA, the maximum ground acceleration to
which a building responds) is often used, which tends to be the PGA.
Seismic risk and engineering

Study of geographic areas combined with an assessment of historical earthquakes allows
geologists to determine seismic risk and to create seismic hazard maps, which show the likely PGA
values to be experienced in a region during an earthquake, with a probability of exceedance (PE).
Seismic engineers and government planning departments use these values to determine the
appropriate earthquake loading for buildings in each zone, with key identified structures (such as
hospitals, bridges, power plants) needing to survive the maximum considered earthquake (MCE).
Damage to buildings is related to both peak ground velocity and PGA, and the duration of the
earthquake the longer high-level shaking persists, the greater the likelihood of damage.
Comparison of instrumental and felt intensity

Peak ground acceleration provides a measurement of instrumental intensity, that is, ground
shaking recorded by seismic instruments. Other intensity scales measure felt intensity, based on
eyewitness reports, felt shaking, and observed damage. There is correlation between these scales,
but not always absolute agreement since experiences and damage can be affected by many other
factors, including the quality of earthquake engineering.
Generally speaking,
0.001 g (0.01 m/s) perceptible by people
0.02 g (0.2 m/s) people lose their balance
0.50 g very high; well-designed buildings can survive if the duration is short.[4]
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Correlation with the Mercalli scale

The United States Geological Survey developed an Instrumental Intensity scale which maps peak
ground acceleration and peak ground velocity on an intensity scale similar to the felt Mercalli scale.
These values are used to create shake maps by seismologists around the world.
Instrumental
Acceleration
Velocity
Intensity
(g)
(cm/s)
< 0.0017
< 0.1
Perceived Shaking Potential Damage

Not felt
None
0.0017 - 0.014 0.1 - 1.1
Weak
None
IV
0.014 - 0.039
1.1 - 3.4
Light
None
0.039 - 0.092
3.4 - 8.1
Moderate
Very light
VI
0.092 - 0.18
8.1 - 16
Strong
Light
VII
0.18 - 0.34
16 - 31
Very strong
Moderate
VIII
0.34 - 0.65
31 - 60
Severe
Moderate to heavy
IX
0.65 - 1.24
60 - 116
Violent
Heavy
X+
> 1.24
> 116
Extreme
Very heavy
II-III
Other intensity scales

In the 7-class Japan Meteorological Agency seismic intensity scale, the highest intensity, Shindo 7,
covers accelerations greater than 4 m/s (0.41 g).
PGA hazard risks worldwide

In India, areas with expected PGA values higher than 0.36g are classed as "Zone 5", or "Very High
Damage Risk Zone".
Notable earthquakes
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PGA
PGA
single
vector sum
direction
(H1, H2, V)
(max
(max
recorded)
recorded)
Mag
Depth
Fatalities
Earthquake
2011 Thoku
2.7g[8]
2.99 g[9][10]
9.0
30 km[11] >15000[12]
earthquake and
tsunami
February 2011
2.2g[13][14]
6.3[13]
5 km
185
Christchurch
earthquake
June 2011
2.13g[13][15]
6.4
6 km
Christchurch
earthquake
4.36g[16]
6.9/7.2 8 km
12
6.7
19 km
57
7.1
42 km[11] 4
1.26g[19][20]
7.1
10 km
1.01g[21]
6.6
10 km
11
1.01g[22]
7.3
8 km
2,415
1.7g[17]
1.47g[18]
2008 Iwate-Miyagi
Nairiku earthquake
1994 Los Angeles
earthquake
April 2011 Miyagi
earthquake
2010 Canterbury
earthquake
2007 Chetsu offshore
earthquake
1999 Jiji earthquake
December 2011
1.0g[23]
6.0
8 km
Christchurch
earthquake
0.8g
6.8
16 km
6,434
0.78g[24]
8.8
23 km[25] 521
0.6g[26]
6.0
10 km
0.51g[27]
6.4
143
612
1995 Kobe earthquake

2010 Chile earthquake
1999 Athens
earthquake
2005 Zarand
earthquake
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PGA
PGA
single
vector sum
direction
(H1, H2, V)
(max
(max
recorded)
recorded)
Mag
Depth
Fatalities
Earthquake
0.5g[17]
7.0
13 km
92,000-316,000 2010 Haiti earthquake
0.438g[28]
7.7
44 km
27
0.367g[29]
5.2
1 km
9.5
33 km
1,655[31]
0.25 0.3g[30]
0.24g[32]
6.4
0.18g[33]
9.2
628
23 km
143
1978 Miyagi
earthquake (Sendai)
2011 Lorca earthquake
1960 Valdivia
earthquake
2004 Morocco
earthquake
1964 Alaska
earthquake
See also
Spectral acceleration
Japan Meteorological Agency seismic intensity scale
Earthquake simulation
References
1. Nuclear Power Plants and Earthquakes
4. Lorant, Gabor (17 June 2010). "Seismic Design
(http://www.world-nuclear.org
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Instrumental Intensity Maps"
(http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes
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Retrieved 15 March 2011.
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(https://geohazards.usgs.gov/deaggint
summary. USGS. 16 July 2001. Retrieved

15 March 2011.
/2002/documentation/parm.php). Geologic
Hazards Science Center. U.S. Geological

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acceleration maps"
(http://www.geonet.org.nz/var/storage/images
/media/images/news/2011/lyttelton_pga
/shakemap/background.php#accmaps).
/57159-2-eng-GB/lyttelton_pga.png). Geonet.
Earthquake Hazards Program. U. S. Geological
GNS Science. Retrieved 24 February 2011.

7. "ShakeMap Scientific Background"
15. "PGA intensity map"

(http://www.geonet.org.nz/var/storage/images
/media/images/news/2011/june_2_pga
/shakemap/background.php). Earthquake
/58225-2-eng-GB/june_2_pga.png). Geonet.
Hazards Program. U. S. Geological Survey.
GNS Science. Retrieved 14 June 2011.

8. Erol Kalkan, Volkan Sevilgen (17 March 2011).
16. Masumi Yamada et al. (JulyAugust 2010).

"Spatially Dense Velocity Structure Exploration
"March 11, 2011 M9.0 Tohoku, Japan
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Earthquake: Preliminary results"
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(http://nsmp.wr.usgs.gov/ekalkan/Tohoku
(http://srl.geoscienceworld.org/cgi/content
/index.html). United States Geological Survey.
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(http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion
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/historic-earthquakes/top-nz/quake-13.html).
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(http://www.geonet.org.nz/news/feb-
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2011-christchurch-badly-damaged-
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/books?id=qEuWntnoZzYC&
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pg=PA123#v=snippet&
(http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news
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24. "Informe Tecnico Terremoto Cauquenes 27 de
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Murcia (http://www.elpais.com/articulo/espana
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(http://www.sismologia.cl/informes
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earthquake events in the south of Chile
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Bibliography
Murphy, J.R.; o'brien (1977). "The correlation of peak ground acceleration amplitude with
seismic intensity and other physical parameters". Bulletin of the Seismological Society of
America 67 (3): 877915.

Campbell, K.W. (1997). "Empirical near-source attenuation relationships for horizontal and
vertical components of peak ground acceleration, peak ground velocity, and pseudo-absolute
acceleration response spectra". Seismological Research Letters 68:
68 154179.
doi:10.1785/gssrl.68.1.154 (https://dx.doi.org/10.1785%2Fgssrl.68.1.154).
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Campbell, K.W.; Y. Bozorgnia (2003). "Updated near-source ground-motion (attenuation)

relations for the horizontal and vertical components of peak ground acceleration and
acceleration response spectra". Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America 93 (1):
314331. Bibcode:2003BuSSA..93..314C (http://adsabs.harvard.edu
/abs/2003BuSSA..93..314C). doi:10.1785/0120020029 (https://dx.doi.org
/10.1785%2F0120020029).
Wald, D.J.; V. Quitoriano, T.H. Heaton, H. Kanamori (1999). "Relationships between peak
ground acceleration, peak ground velocity, and modified Mercalli intensity in California".
Earthquake Spectra 15 (3): 557. doi:10.1193/1.1586058 (https://dx.doi.org

/10.1193%2F1.1586058).
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