What is seismic hazard? What is a seismic hazard map? How are they made? How are they used? Why are there different maps, and which one should I use?
Seismic hazard is the hazard associated with potential earthquakes in a particular area, and a seismic hazard map shows the relative hazards in different areas. The maps are made by considering what we currently know about:
- Past faults and earthquakes
- The behavior of seismic waves as they travel through different parts of the U.S. crust
- The near-surface site conditions at specific locations of interest
Hazard maps can be used for land-use planning, mitigation, and emergency response.
The different maps show different probabilities that are selected to provide an idea of the relative range of hazard across the US. The larger probabilities indicate the level of ground motion likely to cause problems in the western US. The smaller probabilities show how unlikely damaging ground motions are in many places of the eastern US. However, basically the values chosen reflect the more recent history in earthquake engineering.
How does an individual person select a map? Technical users probably have to follow predefined rules. A non-technical person may be interested in avoiding living in a location where significant shaking will cause worry, deciding on whether to carry earthquake insurance, or deciding whether to do some rehabilitation for an existing dwelling. The probability level chosen should reflect how anxious one is to avoid earthquake shaking.
Learn more:
- Earthquake Hazards 101: The Basics provides more details on all of these questions.
- Unified Hazard Tool - For advanced users: earthquake hazard and probability maps, hazard curves, and deaggregation
Related Content
How do I get earthquake hazard maps for locations outside of the U.S.?
How are engineers working to make roads and buildings safer?
What is the USGS doing to mitigate and respond to earthquake hazards?
Can the National Seismic Hazard Maps be used as an earthquake forecast tool for the near future?
What is the probability that an earthquake is a foreshock to a larger earthquake?
Are earthquake probabilities or forecasts the same as prediction?
What is the probability that an earthquake will occur in the Los Angeles Area? In the San Francisco Bay area?
How do I decide whether or not to get earthquake insurance?
How do earthquakes affect buildings?
What is the likelihood of a large earthquake at location X? Is it safe to go to X since they've been having a lot of earthquakes lately?
How will my house hold up in an earthquake? Can the USGS send someone out to evaluate my property?
What are the earthquake hazards/risks where I live?
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