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Food store disturbance as a seismic intensity indicator

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, 345 MIDDLEFIELD ROAD, MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA 94025

Abstract

The disturbance of shelf items in food stores can be an useful system for the reliable determination of seismic intensity. The reliability of the food store intensity ratings results from the similarity of food stores at many different places. Also, the amount of disturbance in a food store is easily determined. Observations indicate that the food store disturbances are comparable to the Modified Mercalli intensity scale from less than intensity V to greater than intensity VII. The food store seismic intensity correlates well with the measurements of peak acceleration on nearby strong-motion instruments. With few exceptions, food store intensity V correlates with peak acceleration values of 0.01 to 0.04 g, intensity VI with 0.06 to 0.15 g, and intensity VII with 0.21 to 0.43 g. The disturbance of furniture and the involuntary fall of people are indicators that may be useful at higher levels of seismic intensity.

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