Site characterization and site response in Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Earthquake Spectra
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Abstract
Waveform analysis of aftershocks of the Mw7.0 Haiti earthquake of 12 January 2010 reveals amplification of ground motions at sites within the Cul de Sac valley in which Port-au-Prince is situated. Relative to ground motions recorded at a hard-rock reference site, peak acceleration values are amplified by a factor of approximately 1.8 at sites on low-lying Mio-Pliocene deposits in central Port-au-Prince and by a factor of approximately 2.5–3 on a steep foothill ridge in the southern Port-au-Prince metropolitan region. The observed amplitude, predominant periods, variability, and polarization of amplification are consistent with predicted topographic amplification by a steep, narrow ridge. A swath of unusually high damage in this region corresponds with the extent of the ridge where high weak-motion amplifications are observed. We use ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) imagery to map local geomorphology, including characterization of both near-surface and of small-scale topographic structures that correspond to zones of inferred amplification.
Suggested Citation
Hough, S.E., Yong, A.K., Altidor, J.R., Anglade, D., Given, D., Mildor, S., 2011, Site characterization and site response in Port-au-Prince, Haiti: Earthquake Spectra, v. 27, no. S1, p. 137-155, https://doi.org/10.1193/1.3637947.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Site characterization and site response in Port-au-Prince, Haiti |
| Series title | Earthquake Spectra |
| DOI | 10.1193/1.3637947 |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue | S1 |
| Publication Date | October 01, 2011 |
| Year Published | 2011 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Earthquake Engineering Research Institute |
| Contributing office(s) | Earthquake Science Center |
| Description | 19 p. |
| First page | 137 |
| Last page | 155 |
| Country | Haiti |
| City | Port-au-prince |