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A new instrumental measure of epicentral shaking intensity in Western China

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Abstract

We define here a new measure of epicentral shaking intensity (modified spectrum intensity), which we derive from strong motion instrumental data. This new metric is similar to Housner’s spectrum intensity, with the caveat that we modify its numerical value by evaluating the predominant period of spectral acceleration and the site characteristics of each strong-motion station. We find that the modified spectrum intensity thus calculated is of higher reliability than peak ground acceleration, peak ground velocity, or Housner’s spectrum intensity in instrumental seismic intensity determination, and it offers a superior method to evaluate macro-seismic intensity distribution soon after a destructive earthquake in Western China.

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Acknowledgments

This research work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (51208475), the National Program on Key Basic Research Project of China (973 Program, 2011CB013601), and Special Research Fund for Seismic Industry of China (201108003). And we owed lots of thanks to Professor Atilla Ansal and the other two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geophysics, China Earthquake Administration, 5th Minzudaxuenan Rd., Bei**g, 100081, China

    Yushi Wang & **aojun Li

  2. Nang**g University of Technology, 200th Zhongshanbei Rd., Nan**g, 210009, China

    Zhenghua Zhou

Authors
  1. Yushi Wang
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  2. **aojun Li
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  3. Zhenghua Zhou
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Correspondence to Yushi Wang.

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Wang, Y., Li, X. & Zhou, Z. A new instrumental measure of epicentral shaking intensity in Western China. Bull Earthquake Eng 11, 913–924 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-013-9428-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-013-9428-5

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