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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 intermediate and deep quakes, since
the energy is released closer to the surface.
[5]
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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/s
2
(1 g = 9.81 m/s
2
);
[3]
or in 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
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
[citation needed]
.
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
Intensity
Acceleration
(g)
Velocity
(cm/s)
Perceived Shaking Potential Damage
I < 0.0017 < 0.1 Not felt None
II-III 0.0017 - 0.014 0.1 - 1.1 Weak None
IV 0.014 - 0.039 1.1 - 3.4 Light None
V 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
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
single
direction
(max
recorded)
PGA
vector sum (H1,
H2, V)
(max recorded)
Mag Depth Fatalities Earthquake
2.7g
[8]
2.99 g
[9][10]
9.0 30 km
[11]
>15000
[12]
2011 Thoku earthquake and
tsunami
2.2g
[13][14]
6.3
[13]
5 km 185
February 2011 Christchurch
earthquake
2.13g
[13][15]
6.4 6 km 1
June 2011 Christchurch
earthquake
4.36g
[16]
6.9/7.2 8 km 12
2008 Iwate-Miyagi Nairiku
earthquake
1.7g
[17]
6.7 19 km 57 1994 Los Angeles earthquake
1.47g
[18]
7.1
42 km
[11]
4 April 2011 Miyagi earthquake
1.26g
[19][20]
7.1 10 km 0 2010 Canterbury earthquake
1.01g
[21]
6.6 10 km 11
2007 Chetsu offshore
earthquake
1.01g
[22]
7.3 8 km 2,415 1999 Jiji earthquake
1.0g
[23]
6.0 8 km 0
December 2011 Christchurch
earthquake
0.8g 6.8 16 km 6,434 1995 Kobe earthquake
0.78g
[24]
8.8
23 km
[25]
521 2010 Chile earthquake
0.6g
[26]
6.0 10 km 143 1999 Athens earthquake
0.51g
[27]
6.4 612 2005 Zarand earthquake
0.5g
[17]
7.0 13 km
92,000-
316,000
2010 Haiti earthquake
0.438g
[28]
7.7 44 km 27 1978 Miyagi earthquake (Sendai)
0.367g
[29]
5.2 1 km 9 2011 Lorca earthquake
0.25 - 0.3g
[30]
9.5 33 km
1,655
[31]
1960 Valdivia earthquake
0.24g
[32]
6.4 628
2004 Morocco earthquake
0.18g
[33]
9.2 23 km 143 1964 Alaska earthquake
See also
4/25/2014 Peak ground acceleration - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Spectral acceleration
Japan Meteorological Agency seismic intensity scale
Earthquake simulation
References
1. ^ Nuclear Power Plants and Earthquakes (http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf18.html), accessed 2011-04-08
2. ^
a

b
"ShakeMap Scientific Background. Rapid Instrumental Intensity Maps"
(http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/shakemap/background.php#intmaps). Earthquake Hazards Program. U. S.
Geological Survey. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
3. ^
a

b
"Explanation of Parameters" (https://geohazards.usgs.gov/deaggint/2002/documentation/parm.php). Geologic
Hazards Science Center. U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
4. ^
a

b
Lorant, Gabor (17 June 2010). "Seismic Design Principles"
(http://www.wbdg.org/resources/seismic_design.php). Whole Building Design Guide. National Institute of
Building Sciences. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
5. ^ "Magnitude 6.6 Near the west coast of Honshu, Japan"
(http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2007ewac.php#summary). Earthquake summary.
USGS. 16 July 2001. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
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(http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/shakemap/background.php#accmaps). Earthquake Hazards Program. U.
S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
7. ^ "ShakeMap Scientific Background" (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/shakemap/background.php).
Earthquake Hazards Program. U. S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
8. ^ Erol Kalkan, Volkan Sevilgen (17 March 2011). "March 11, 2011 M9.0 Tohoku, Japan Earthquake: Preliminary
results" (http://nsmp.wr.usgs.gov/ekalkan/Tohoku/index.html). United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 22
March 2011.
9. ^ http://www.kyoshin.bosai.go.jp/kyoshin/topics/html20110311144626/main_20110311144626.html
10. ^ "2011 Off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku earthquake, Strong Ground Motion" (http://www.k-net.bosai.go.jp/k-
net/topics/TohokuTaiheiyo_20110311/nied_kyoshin1e.pdf). National Research Institute for Earth Science and
Disaster Prevention. Retrieved 18 March 2011.
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a

b
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqarchives/year/2011/2011_stats.php
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Earthquake" (http://www.npa.go.jp/archive/keibi/biki/higaijokyo_e.pdf). Emergency Disaster Countermeasures
Headquarters. National Police Agency of Japan.
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b

c
"Feb 22 2011 - Christchurch badly damaged by magnitude 6.3 earthquake"
(http://www.geonet.org.nz/news/feb-2011-christchurch-badly-damaged-by-magnitude-6-3-earthquake.html).
Geonet. GNS Science. 23 February 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
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(http://www.geonet.org.nz/var/storage/images/media/images/news/2011/lyttelton_pga/57159-2-eng-
GB/lyttelton_pga.png). Geonet. GNS Science. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
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2-eng-GB/june_2_pga.png). Geonet. GNS Science. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
16. ^ Masumi Yamada et al (JulyAugust 2010). "Spatially Dense Velocity Structure Exploration in the Source Region
of the Iwate-Miyagi Nairiku Earthquake" (http://srl.geoscienceworld.org/cgi/content/extract/81/4/597).
Seismological Research Letters v. 81; no. 4;. Seismological Society of America. pp. 597604. Retrieved 21 March
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17. ^
a

b
Lin, Rong-Gong; Allen, Sam (26 February 2011). "New Zealand quake raises questions about L.A. buildings"
(http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-quake-california-20110226,0,1231448.story). Los Angeles Times
(Tribune). Retrieved 27 February 2011.
18. ^ http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/shakemap/global/shake/c0002ksa/
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Bibliography
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Campbell, K.W. (1997). "Empirical near-source attenuation relationships for horizontal and vertical
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