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Memphis Earthquake Hazard Mapping Project

Completed
By Earthquake Hazards Program October 11, 2019

Memphis has a dense urban population near faults capable of producing major earthquakes.

Memphis
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Memphis. (Public domain.)

A high probability of a moderate earthquake in the near future (e.g., a 25-40% probability of a magnitude 6.0 or greater in the next 50 years), and relatively low regional attenuation (in other words, seismic waves do damage over a greater area in this region than for the same magnitude earthquake in the west) lead to significant earthquake hazard in the Memphis metropolitan area. Memphis lies within the New Madrid seismic zone, which is the most seismically active and well-studied region in the Central and Eastern U.S.

These datasets include probabilistic and deterministic maps and data, as well as liquefaction potential maps, data, and documentation.

Memphis Urban Seismic Hazard Maps, v2008

Memphis has a dense urban population near faults capable of producing major earthquakes. A high probability of a moderate earthquake in the near future (e.g., a 25-40% probability of a magnitude 6.0 or greater in the next 50 years) from the New Madrid seismic zone, and relatively low regional attenuation (in other words, seismic waves do damage over a greater area in this region than for the same
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Geologic Hazards Science Center

The following are surficial geology maps for quadrangles in the Memphis, TN area.

Surficial geologic map of the Northeast Memphis quadrangle, Shelby County, Tennessee

The depiction of geology on this map is designed to aid in urban planning and analysis of potential damage in the event of strong earthquake motion. The geologic map by itself does not analyze potential earthquake damage, but is designed to be used by seismologists who perform such analyses. The nature of geologic materials to a degree determines the severity of damage to infrastructure sustaine

Surficial geologic map of the Northwest Memphis quadrangle, Shelby County, Tennessee, and Crittenden County, Arkansas

The depiction of geology on this map is designed to aid in urban planning and analysis of potential damage in the event of strong earthquake motion. The geologic map by itself does not analyze potential earthquake damage, but is designed to be used by seismologists who perform such analyses. The nature of geologic materials to a degree determines the severity of damage to infrastructure sus

Surficial geologic map of the Ellendale quadrangle, Shelby County, Tennessee

The depiction of geology on this map is designed to aid in urban planning and analysis of potential damage in the event of strong earthquake motion. The geologic map by itself does not analyze potential earthquake damage, but is designed to be used by seismologists who perform such analyses. The nature of geologic materials to a degree determines the severity of damage to infrastructure sus

Surficial geologic map of the Germantown quadrangle, Shelby County, Tennessee

The depiction of geology on this map is designed to aid in urban planning and analysis of potential damage in the event of strong earthquake motion. The geologic map by itself does not analyze potential earthquake damage, but is designed to be used by seismologists who perform such analyses. The nature of geologic materials to a degree determines the severity of damage to infrastructure sustaine

Surficial geologic map of the southeast Memphis Quadrangle, Shelby County, Tennessee

The depiction of geology on this map is designed to aid in urban planning and analysis of potential damage in the event of strong earthquake motion. The geologic map by itself does not analyze potential earthquake damage, but is designed to be used by seismologists who perform such analyses. Wind-deposited silt and clayey silt (loess) is the predominant surficial deposit. Loess entirely c

Surficial geologic map of the southwest Memphis Quadrangle, Shelby County, Tennessee, and Crittenden County, Arkansas

This map is one of seven 1:24,000-scale (7.5-minute) quadrangle maps of the surficial geology of the Memphis, Tennessee, area--part of a series of urban hazard maps. Wind-deposited silt and clayey silt (loess) is the predominant surficial deposit in this quadrangle. The loess was deposited as dust during the last major continental glaciation of the region and it covers the upland to

The following are ground shaking maps for Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee.

Urban seismic hazard mapping for Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee

Earthquakes cannot be predicted, but scientists can forecast how strongly the ground is likely to shake as a result of an earthquake. Seismic hazard maps provide one way of conveying such forecasts. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), which produces seismic hazard maps for the Nation, is now engaged in developing more detailed maps for vulnerable urban areas. The first set of these maps is now avai
Authors
Joan Gomberg
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Earthquake Science Center

The Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, seismic hazard maps

No abstract available.
Authors
Chris H. Cramer, Joan S. Gomberg, Eugene S. Schweig, Brian A. Waldron, Kathleen Tucker

Memphis has a dense urban population near faults capable of producing major earthquakes.

Memphis
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Memphis. (Public domain.)

A high probability of a moderate earthquake in the near future (e.g., a 25-40% probability of a magnitude 6.0 or greater in the next 50 years), and relatively low regional attenuation (in other words, seismic waves do damage over a greater area in this region than for the same magnitude earthquake in the west) lead to significant earthquake hazard in the Memphis metropolitan area. Memphis lies within the New Madrid seismic zone, which is the most seismically active and well-studied region in the Central and Eastern U.S.

These datasets include probabilistic and deterministic maps and data, as well as liquefaction potential maps, data, and documentation.

Memphis Urban Seismic Hazard Maps, v2008

Memphis has a dense urban population near faults capable of producing major earthquakes. A high probability of a moderate earthquake in the near future (e.g., a 25-40% probability of a magnitude 6.0 or greater in the next 50 years) from the New Madrid seismic zone, and relatively low regional attenuation (in other words, seismic waves do damage over a greater area in this region than for the same
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Geologic Hazards Science Center

The following are surficial geology maps for quadrangles in the Memphis, TN area.

Surficial geologic map of the Northeast Memphis quadrangle, Shelby County, Tennessee

The depiction of geology on this map is designed to aid in urban planning and analysis of potential damage in the event of strong earthquake motion. The geologic map by itself does not analyze potential earthquake damage, but is designed to be used by seismologists who perform such analyses. The nature of geologic materials to a degree determines the severity of damage to infrastructure sustaine

Surficial geologic map of the Northwest Memphis quadrangle, Shelby County, Tennessee, and Crittenden County, Arkansas

The depiction of geology on this map is designed to aid in urban planning and analysis of potential damage in the event of strong earthquake motion. The geologic map by itself does not analyze potential earthquake damage, but is designed to be used by seismologists who perform such analyses. The nature of geologic materials to a degree determines the severity of damage to infrastructure sus

Surficial geologic map of the Ellendale quadrangle, Shelby County, Tennessee

The depiction of geology on this map is designed to aid in urban planning and analysis of potential damage in the event of strong earthquake motion. The geologic map by itself does not analyze potential earthquake damage, but is designed to be used by seismologists who perform such analyses. The nature of geologic materials to a degree determines the severity of damage to infrastructure sus

Surficial geologic map of the Germantown quadrangle, Shelby County, Tennessee

The depiction of geology on this map is designed to aid in urban planning and analysis of potential damage in the event of strong earthquake motion. The geologic map by itself does not analyze potential earthquake damage, but is designed to be used by seismologists who perform such analyses. The nature of geologic materials to a degree determines the severity of damage to infrastructure sustaine

Surficial geologic map of the southeast Memphis Quadrangle, Shelby County, Tennessee

The depiction of geology on this map is designed to aid in urban planning and analysis of potential damage in the event of strong earthquake motion. The geologic map by itself does not analyze potential earthquake damage, but is designed to be used by seismologists who perform such analyses. Wind-deposited silt and clayey silt (loess) is the predominant surficial deposit. Loess entirely c

Surficial geologic map of the southwest Memphis Quadrangle, Shelby County, Tennessee, and Crittenden County, Arkansas

This map is one of seven 1:24,000-scale (7.5-minute) quadrangle maps of the surficial geology of the Memphis, Tennessee, area--part of a series of urban hazard maps. Wind-deposited silt and clayey silt (loess) is the predominant surficial deposit in this quadrangle. The loess was deposited as dust during the last major continental glaciation of the region and it covers the upland to

The following are ground shaking maps for Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee.

Urban seismic hazard mapping for Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee

Earthquakes cannot be predicted, but scientists can forecast how strongly the ground is likely to shake as a result of an earthquake. Seismic hazard maps provide one way of conveying such forecasts. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), which produces seismic hazard maps for the Nation, is now engaged in developing more detailed maps for vulnerable urban areas. The first set of these maps is now avai
Authors
Joan Gomberg
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Earthquake Science Center

The Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, seismic hazard maps

No abstract available.
Authors
Chris H. Cramer, Joan S. Gomberg, Eugene S. Schweig, Brian A. Waldron, Kathleen Tucker
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