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Improved earthquake monitoring in the central and eastern United States in support of seismic assessments for critical facilities

Open-File Report 2011-1101
By: , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20111101

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Abstract

Evaluation of seismic monitoring capabilities in the central and eastern United States for critical facilities - including nuclear powerplants - focused on specific improvements to understand better the seismic hazards in the region. The report is not an assessment of seismic safety at nuclear plants. To accomplish the evaluation and to provide suggestions for improvements using funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the U.S. Geological Survey examined addition of new strong-motion seismic stations in areas of seismic activity and addition of new seismic stations near nuclear power-plant locations, along with integration of data from the Transportable Array of some 400 mobile seismic stations. Some 38 and 68 stations, respectively, were suggested for addition in active seismic zones and near-power-plant locations. Expansion of databases for strong-motion and other earthquake source-characterization data also was evaluated. Recognizing pragmatic limitations of station deployment, augmentation of existing deployments provides improvements in source characterization by quantification of near-source attenuation in regions where larger earthquakes are expected. That augmentation also supports systematic data collection from existing networks. The report further utilizes the application of modeling procedures and processing algorithms, with the additional stations and the improved seismic databases, to leverage the capabilities of existing and expanded seismic arrays.

Suggested Citation

Leith, W.S., Benz, H.M., Herrmann, R.B., 2011, Improved earthquake monitoring in the central and eastern United States in support of seismic assessments for critical facilities: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2011-1101, iv, 29 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20111101.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

ISSN: 0196-1497 (print)

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Improved earthquake monitoring in the central and eastern United States in support of seismic assessments for critical facilities
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2011-1101
DOI 10.3133/ofr20111101
Year Published 2011
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Geologic Hazards Team
Description iv, 29 p.
First page i
Last page 29
Country United States
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Additional publication details