Skip to main content
Log in

Macroseismic Surveys in Theory and Practice

  • Published:
Natural Hazards Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Macroseismology is the part of seismology that collects and evaluates non-instrumental data on earthquakes, i.e., effects on people, objects, buildings and nature. The methods that seismologists use for collecting and evaluating the macroseismic data are often based on long (trial-and-error) experience more than on some formal procedure. Until very recently manuals or guidelines on how to do a macroseismic survey were rare and often superficial. After an earthquake is felt in some region, the data are usually collected by means of questionnaires. Field survey is an obligatory tool that complements the questionnaires in the case of a damaging earthquake. An overview of the approaches to deriving the earthquake parameters (epicentre and barycentre, epicentral intensity, magnitude, depth, source parametres) from macroseismic data, as well as a review of some existing practices is given.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Albarello, D., Berardi, A., Margottini, C., and Mucciarelli, M.: 1995, Macroseismic estimates of magnitude in Italy, Pure and Applied Geoph. 145(2), 297–312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bakun, W. H. and Wentworth, C. M.: 1997, Estimating earthquake location and magnitude from seismic intensity data, Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am. 87, 1502–1521.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blake, A.: 1941, On the estimation of focal depth from macroseismic data. Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am. 31, 225–231.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bormann, P.: in press, New Manual of the Seismological Observatory Practice.

  • Burton, P. W., McGonigle, R., Neilson, G., and Musson, R. M. W.: 1985, Macroseismic focal depth and intensity attenuation for British earthquakes, in Earthquake engineering in Britain, Telford, London, pp. 91–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cecić, I. and Jesenko, T.: 2000, Teren 18. aprila za potres 16. aprila 2002 pri Raki. ARSO (URSG), internal report, 8pp.

  • Cecić, I., Musson, R. M. W., and Stucchi, M.: 1996, Do seismologists agree upon epicentre determination from macroseismic data? A survey of ESC Working Group “Macroseismology”, Annali di Geofisica 39(5), 1013–1027.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cecić, I., Godec, M., Zupančič, P., and Dolenc, D.: 1999, Macroseismic effects of 12 April 1998 Krn, Slovenia earthquake: An overview. Presented at IUGG 99, Birmingham, UK.

  • Cecić, I., Živčić, M., Torkar, M., and Jesenko, T.: 2001, Potresi v Sloveniji leta 2000, in R. Vidrih (ed.), Potresi v letu 2000, ARSO, pp. 8–28

  • Davison, C.: 1891, On the Inverness earthquakes of November 15th to December 14th, 1890, Quart. Jnl. Geol. Soc. 47, 618–632.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davison C.: 1924, A History of British Earthquakes, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiegweil, E.: 1989, Brief outline of the macroseismic practice in Austria, in I. Cecić (ed.), First AB Workshop on Macroseismic Methods, May 9–11, 1989, Poljče, Slovenia, SSRS, Ljubljana.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankel, A.: 1994, Implications of felt area-magnitude relations for earthquake scaling and the average frequency of perceptible ground motion, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. 84, 462–465.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasparini, C., De Rubeis, V., and Tertulliani, A.: 1992, A method for the analysis of macroseismic questionnaires, Natural Hazards 5, 169–177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasperini, P., Bernadini, F., Valensise, G., and Boschi, E.: 1999, Defining seismogenic sources from historical earthquake felt reports, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. 89, 94–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grünthal, G. (ed.): 1998, European Macroseismic Scale 1998, Cahiers du Centre Européen de Géodynamique et de Seismologie 15, Conseil de l'Europe, Luxembourg.

  • Jánosi, I.: 1907, Makroszeizmikus rengések feldolgozása a Cancani-féle egyenlet alapján, in A. Réthly (ed.), Az 1906 évi Magyarországi Földrengések, A. M. Kir. Orsz. Met. Föld. Int., Budapest, pp. 77–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kövesligethy, R.: 1906, A makroszeizmikus rengések feldolgozása, Math. és Természettudományi Értesítõ 24, 349–368.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, W. H. K., Kanamori, H., and Jennings, P. C.: in press, IASPEI International Handbook of Earthquake and Engineering Seismology.

  • Levret, A., Cushing, M., and Peyridieu, G.: 1996, Etude des caractéristiques de séismes historique en France: Atlas de 140 cartes macroseismiques, IPSN, Fontenay-Aux-Roses.

  • Musson, R. M. W.: 1992, Routine macroseismic monitoring in the UK, in I. Cecić (ed.), Second AB Workshop on Macroseismic Methods, October 15–18, 1990, Poljče, Slovenia, SSRS, Ljubljana, pp. 9–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Musson, R. M. W.: 1993, Macroseismic magnitude and depth for British earthquakes, BGS Global Seismology Report No. WL/93/13.

  • Musson, R. M. W.: 1996, Determination of parameters for historical British earthquakes, Annali di Geofisica 39(5), 1041–1048.

    Google Scholar 

  • Musson, R. M. W.: 1998. The Barrow-in-Furness earthquake of 15 February 1865: Liquefaction from a very small magnitude event, Pure and Applied Geophys. 152, 733–745.

    Google Scholar 

  • Musson, R. M. W. and Henni, P. H. O.: 1999. From questionnaires to intensities — Assessing freeform macroseismic data in the UK, Phys. Chem. Earth (A) 24(6), 511–515.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parsons, T., Toda, S., Stein, R. S., Barka, A., and Dieterich, J. H.: 2000, Heightened odds of large earthquakes near Istanbul: An interaction-based probability calculation, Science 288, 661–665

    Google Scholar 

  • Peruzza, L.: 1992, Procedure of macroseismic epicentre evaluation for seismic hazard purposes, in Proceedings of the XXIII General Assembly of the ESC 2, 434–437, Prague.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riggio, A. M. and Slejko, D.: 1989, Macroseismic practice at the OGS, in I. Cecić (ed.), First AB Workshop on Macroseismic Methods, May 9–11, 1989, Poljče, Slovenia, SSRS, Ljubljana.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shebalin, N. V.: 1973, Macroseismic data as information on source parameters of large earthquakes, Phys. Earth. Planet. Interiors 6, 316–323.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sponheuer, W.: 1960, Methoden zur Herdtiefenbestimmung in der Makroseismik, in Freiberger Forschungshefte C88, Akademie Verlag, Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tertulliani, A. and Maramai, A.: 1992, Macroseismic practice at ING, Rome, in I. Cecić (ed.), Second AB Workshop on Macroseismic Methods, October 15–18, 1990, Poljče, Slovenia, SSRS, Ljubljana, pp. 15–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tertulliani, A., Cecić, I., and Godec, M.: 1999, Unification of macroseismic data collection procedures: A pilot project for border earthquakes assessment, Natural Hazards 19, 221–231.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cecić, I., Musson, R. Macroseismic Surveys in Theory and Practice. Natural Hazards 31, 39–61 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:NHAZ.0000020255.00986.37

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:NHAZ.0000020255.00986.37

Navigation