Seismic Shifts: USGS Reveals Innovative Earthquake Hazard Map

Based on research, the map is the first presentation of an enhanced and inclusive National Seismic Hazard Model covering all 50 states.

A team led by the U.S. Geological Survey, consisting of over 50 scientists and engineers, has revealed that almost 75 percent of the United States is at risk of encountering destructive earthquake shaking.

One of the significant discoveries from the most recent iteration of the USGS National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM) is that almost 75 percent of the U.S. is susceptible to impactful earthquake shaking. However, this model, employed to generate a color-coded map, identifies areas where destructive earthquakes are more probable, drawing insights from seismic research, historical geological data, and cutting-edge data-collection technologies.

Enhancing Public Safety With the NSHM

The NSHM update, initiated at Congress’s request, is crucial for engineers and various stakeholders. Therefore, its purpose is to aid in mitigating the impact of earthquakes on vulnerable communities by presenting probable earthquake locations and estimating potential shaking intensity. Moreover, with the integration of new tools and technology, the update revealed nearly 500 additional faults capable of generating damaging earthquakes, highlighting earthquake research’s dynamic and evolving nature.

Mark Petersen, a geophysicist and the study’s lead author, stated, “It was a large-scale, multi-year collaboration involving federal, state, and local governments, as well as the private sector. The updated seismic hazard model is a significant accomplishment in improving public safety.”

Comprehensive 50-State Earthquake Assessment

The most recent version, which marks the first comprehensive assessment covering all 50 states, has been revised from earlier editions released in 2018 (for the contiguous U.S.), 2007 (for Alaska), and 1998 (for Hawaii).

Significant alterations in the updated model indicate the potential for increased earthquake severity in the central and northeastern Atlantic Coastal corridor, affecting cities like Washington D.C., Philadelphia, New York, and Boston. Additionally, there’s a possibility of more intense shaking in the earthquake-prone areas of California and Alaska. The model also highlights Hawaii as having a higher likelihood of shaking due to recent volcanic eruptions and seismic activity on the islands.

Advances in Earthquake Forecasting and Risk Assessment

Predicting earthquakes is difficult, but with our new model, we have made great strides, Petersen said. Additionally, the update incorporates more faults, improved characterization of land surfaces, and advanced computational modeling, offering the most detailed perspective to date on the earthquake risks they have encountered, Petersen said.

Key findings of the new seismic hazard model consist of:

• People at Risk: Almost 75% of the United States could face potentially harmful earthquakes and tremendous ground shaking, endangering hundreds of millions of individuals.

• Extensive Danger: Over the past two centuries, 37 states in the U.S. have encountered earthquakes with a magnitude surpassing 5, underscoring a prolonged history of seismic activity throughout the country.

• Building Impact: The revised model will guide the direction of building and structural design in the future, providing essential information for architects, engineers, and policymakers regarding how structures are designed and built throughout the U.S.

• Coordinated Effort: This signifies the initial National Seismic Hazard Model to cover all 50 states concurrently, illustrating a substantial joint initiative with federal, state, and local collaborators.

• No Certainty in Prediction: Predicting earthquakes is impossible. Nevertheless, by examining faults and past seismic events, scientists can more effectively evaluate the probability of future earthquakes and the potential intensity of their shaking.

Read the original article on: SciTechDaily

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