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2008 United States (Lower 48) Seismic Hazard Long-term Model Completed

By Earthquake Hazards Program December 23, 2019

Seismicity catalogs, gridded seismic hazard curve data, gridded ground motion data, and mapped gridded ground motion values are available for the 2008 National Seismic Hazard Model for the Conterminous U.S.

(1) Seismicity catalogs are available for the western U.S. (in Mw) and central and eastern U.S. (in mb).

(2) Gridded (0.05 degree by 0.05 degree) ground motion values and hazard maps are available for peak ground acceleration (PGA) and 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 second spectral acceleration (SA) at probability levels of 2% in 50 years (annual probability of 0.000404), 5% in 50 years (annual probability of 0.001026), and 10% in 50 years (annual probability of 0.0021), assuming firm rock soil conditions at 760 m/s, for the conterminous U.S. (US). Additional periods (0.75s, 3s, 4s, and 5s) are available for the western U.S. (WUS). Data was derived from the probabilistic seismic hazard curves.

(3) Gridded (0.1 degree by 0.1 degree) ground motion values and hazard maps are available for peak ground acceleration (PGA) and 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 second spectral acceleration (SA) at probability levels of 2% in 50 years (annual probability of 0.000404), 5% in 50 years (annual probability of 0.001026), and 10% in 50 years (annual probability of 0.0021), assuming hard rock site conditions at 2,000 m/s, for the central and eastern U.S. (CEUS). Data was derived from the probabilistic seismic hazard curves.

(4) Gridded (0.05 degree by 0.05 degree) ground motion values and hazard maps are available for peak ground acceleration (PGA) and 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 0.75s, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0 second spectral acceleration (SA) at probability levels of 2% in 50 years (annual probability of 0.000404), 5% in 50 years (annual probability of 0.001026), and 10% in 50 years (annual probability of 0.0021), for VS30 (time-averaged shear wave velocity in the upper 30 meters of the crust) values of 1,150 m/s, 537 m/s, 360 m/s, 259 m/s, and 180 m/s, for the western U.S. (WUS). Data was derived from the probabilistic seismic hazard curves.

Development of the 2008 National Seismic Hazard Model for the Conterminous U.S. is documented in the USGS Open-File Report 2008-1128.

This dataset is considered a legacy dataset. The original dataset was uploaded to the USGS website at the time of publication of the seismic hazard model (2008) but was later moved over the the USGS ScienceBase Catalog (2019). The original dataset was assumed to be complete and accurate, but may contain inconsistencies when compared to more recent, actively maintained datasets.

Additional Information

Below are publications associated with this project.

Documentation for the 2008 update of the United States National Seismic Hazard Maps

The 2008 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Seismic Hazard Maps display earthquake ground motions for various probability levels across the United States and are applied in seismic provisions of building codes, insurance rate structures, risk assessments, and other public policy. This update of the maps incorporates new findings on earthquake ground shaking, faults, seismicity, and geodesy. Th
Authors
Mark D. Petersen, Arthur D. Frankel, Stephen C. Harmsen, Charles S. Mueller, Kathleen M. Haller, Russell L. Wheeler, Robert L. Wesson, Yuehua Zeng, Oliver S. Boyd, David M. Perkins, Nicolas Luco, Edward H. Field, Chris J. Wills, Kenneth S. Rukstales
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Geologic Hazards Science Center

Earthquake hazard in the New Madrid Seismic Zone remains a concern

There is broad agreement in the scientific community that a continuing concern exists for a major destructive earthquake in the New Madrid seismic zone. Many structures in Memphis, Tenn., St. Louis, Mo., and other communities in the central Mississippi River Valley region are vulnerable and at risk from severe ground shaking. This assessment is based on decades of research on New Madrid earthquake
Authors
A. D. Frankel, D. Applegate, M. P. Tuttle, R. A. Williams
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Geologic Hazards Science Center

California fault parameters for the National Seismic Hazard Maps and Working Group on California Earthquake Probabilities 2007

This report describes development of fault parameters for the 2007 update of the National Seismic Hazard Maps and the Working Group on California Earthquake Probabilities (WGCEP, 2007). These reference parameters are contained within a database intended to be a source of values for use by scientists interested in producing either seismic hazard or deformation models to better understand the curren
Authors
Chris J. Wills, Ray J. Weldon, W. A. Bryant
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Earthquake Science Center

2008 United States National Seismic Hazard Maps

The U.S. Geological Survey recently updated the National Seismic Hazard Maps by incorporating new seismic, geologic, and geodetic information on earthquake rates and associated ground shaking. The 2008 versions supersede those released in 1996 and 2002. These maps are the basis for seismic design provisions of building codes, insurance rate structures, earthquake loss studies, retrofit priorities,
Authors
M.D. Petersen

The Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast, version 2 (UCERF 2)

California?s 35 million people live among some of the most active earthquake faults in the United States. Public safety demands credible assessments of the earthquake hazard to maintain appropriate building codes for safe construction and earthquake insurance for loss protection. Seismic hazard analysis begins with an earthquake rupture forecast?a model of probabilities that earthquakes of specifi
Authors
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Earthquake Science Center, Geologic Hazards Science Center
  • Overview

    Seismicity catalogs, gridded seismic hazard curve data, gridded ground motion data, and mapped gridded ground motion values are available for the 2008 National Seismic Hazard Model for the Conterminous U.S.

    (1) Seismicity catalogs are available for the western U.S. (in Mw) and central and eastern U.S. (in mb).

    (2) Gridded (0.05 degree by 0.05 degree) ground motion values and hazard maps are available for peak ground acceleration (PGA) and 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 second spectral acceleration (SA) at probability levels of 2% in 50 years (annual probability of 0.000404), 5% in 50 years (annual probability of 0.001026), and 10% in 50 years (annual probability of 0.0021), assuming firm rock soil conditions at 760 m/s, for the conterminous U.S. (US). Additional periods (0.75s, 3s, 4s, and 5s) are available for the western U.S. (WUS). Data was derived from the probabilistic seismic hazard curves.

    (3) Gridded (0.1 degree by 0.1 degree) ground motion values and hazard maps are available for peak ground acceleration (PGA) and 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 second spectral acceleration (SA) at probability levels of 2% in 50 years (annual probability of 0.000404), 5% in 50 years (annual probability of 0.001026), and 10% in 50 years (annual probability of 0.0021), assuming hard rock site conditions at 2,000 m/s, for the central and eastern U.S. (CEUS). Data was derived from the probabilistic seismic hazard curves.

    (4) Gridded (0.05 degree by 0.05 degree) ground motion values and hazard maps are available for peak ground acceleration (PGA) and 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 0.75s, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0 second spectral acceleration (SA) at probability levels of 2% in 50 years (annual probability of 0.000404), 5% in 50 years (annual probability of 0.001026), and 10% in 50 years (annual probability of 0.0021), for VS30 (time-averaged shear wave velocity in the upper 30 meters of the crust) values of 1,150 m/s, 537 m/s, 360 m/s, 259 m/s, and 180 m/s, for the western U.S. (WUS). Data was derived from the probabilistic seismic hazard curves.

    Development of the 2008 National Seismic Hazard Model for the Conterminous U.S. is documented in the USGS Open-File Report 2008-1128.

    This dataset is considered a legacy dataset. The original dataset was uploaded to the USGS website at the time of publication of the seismic hazard model (2008) but was later moved over the the USGS ScienceBase Catalog (2019). The original dataset was assumed to be complete and accurate, but may contain inconsistencies when compared to more recent, actively maintained datasets.

    Additional Information

  • Publications

    Below are publications associated with this project.

    Documentation for the 2008 update of the United States National Seismic Hazard Maps

    The 2008 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Seismic Hazard Maps display earthquake ground motions for various probability levels across the United States and are applied in seismic provisions of building codes, insurance rate structures, risk assessments, and other public policy. This update of the maps incorporates new findings on earthquake ground shaking, faults, seismicity, and geodesy. Th
    Authors
    Mark D. Petersen, Arthur D. Frankel, Stephen C. Harmsen, Charles S. Mueller, Kathleen M. Haller, Russell L. Wheeler, Robert L. Wesson, Yuehua Zeng, Oliver S. Boyd, David M. Perkins, Nicolas Luco, Edward H. Field, Chris J. Wills, Kenneth S. Rukstales
    By
    Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Geologic Hazards Science Center

    Earthquake hazard in the New Madrid Seismic Zone remains a concern

    There is broad agreement in the scientific community that a continuing concern exists for a major destructive earthquake in the New Madrid seismic zone. Many structures in Memphis, Tenn., St. Louis, Mo., and other communities in the central Mississippi River Valley region are vulnerable and at risk from severe ground shaking. This assessment is based on decades of research on New Madrid earthquake
    Authors
    A. D. Frankel, D. Applegate, M. P. Tuttle, R. A. Williams
    By
    Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Geologic Hazards Science Center

    California fault parameters for the National Seismic Hazard Maps and Working Group on California Earthquake Probabilities 2007

    This report describes development of fault parameters for the 2007 update of the National Seismic Hazard Maps and the Working Group on California Earthquake Probabilities (WGCEP, 2007). These reference parameters are contained within a database intended to be a source of values for use by scientists interested in producing either seismic hazard or deformation models to better understand the curren
    Authors
    Chris J. Wills, Ray J. Weldon, W. A. Bryant
    By
    Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Earthquake Science Center

    2008 United States National Seismic Hazard Maps

    The U.S. Geological Survey recently updated the National Seismic Hazard Maps by incorporating new seismic, geologic, and geodetic information on earthquake rates and associated ground shaking. The 2008 versions supersede those released in 1996 and 2002. These maps are the basis for seismic design provisions of building codes, insurance rate structures, earthquake loss studies, retrofit priorities,
    Authors
    M.D. Petersen

    The Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast, version 2 (UCERF 2)

    California?s 35 million people live among some of the most active earthquake faults in the United States. Public safety demands credible assessments of the earthquake hazard to maintain appropriate building codes for safe construction and earthquake insurance for loss protection. Seismic hazard analysis begins with an earthquake rupture forecast?a model of probabilities that earthquakes of specifi
    Authors
    By
    Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Earthquake Science Center, Geologic Hazards Science Center