Estimating maximum expectable magnitude of earthquakes from fault dimensions

Research Article| July 01, 1979 Estimating maximum expectable magnitude of earthquakes from fault dimensions Max Wyss Max Wyss 1Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, Colorado 80309 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Max Wyss 1Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, Colorado 80309 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1979) 7 (7): 336–340. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1979)72.0.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Max Wyss; Estimating maximum expectable magnitude of earthquakes from fault dimensions. Geology 1979;; 7 (7): 336–340. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1979)72.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The evaluation of seismic risk at locations where sensitive man-made structures are planned depends critically on a correct estimate of the maximum expectable earthquake magnitude, Mmax, in that region. By assuming that the longest fault (or fault unit) with length Lmax could break in a single earthquake, one estimates Mmax from Lmax on the basis of a magnitude versus source-length relation, which is derived empirically. The maximum expectable ground accelerations are then estimated from Mmax. I propose that a more accurate estimate of Mmax can be obtained by determining the maximum expected rupture area, Amax, and using the magnitude-area relation M = log A + 4.15 (valid for M > 5.6). Amax can be obtained from the product of Lmax times the expected fault width. The latter can probably be estimated more accurately than Lmax on the basis of tectonic analysis and microearthquakes studies. The Mmax estimates derived from rupture area give more accurate results than the estimates based on rupture length alone, because narrow faults produce less powerful earthquakes than do wide faults of the same length. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.