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Seismic hazard maps for Haiti

January 1, 2011

We have produced probabilistic seismic hazard maps of Haiti for peak ground acceleration and response spectral accelerations that include the hazard from the major crustal faults, subduction zones, and background earthquakes. The hazard from the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden, Septentrional, and Matheux-Neiba fault zones was estimated using fault slip rates determined from GPS measurements. The hazard from the subduction zones along the northern and southeastern coasts of Hispaniola was calculated from slip rates derived from GPS data and the overall plate motion. Hazard maps were made for a firm-rock site condition and for a grid of shallow shear-wave velocities estimated from topographic slope. The maps show substantial hazard throughout Haiti, with the highest hazard in Haiti along the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden and Septentrional fault zones. The Matheux-Neiba Fault exhibits high hazard in the maps for 2% probability of exceedance in 50 years, although its slip rate is poorly constrained.

Publication Year 2011
Title Seismic hazard maps for Haiti
DOI 10.1193/1.3631016
Authors Arthur Frankel, Stephen Harmsen, Charles Mueller, Eric Calais, Jennifer Haase
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Earthquake Spectra
Index ID 70042220
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Earthquake Science Center