HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) References Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by dePolo, C. M. Search for Related Content GeoRef GeoRef Citation

The maximum background earthquake for the Basin and Range province, western North America

Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Mackay School of Mines University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada 89557

Abstract

The maximum background earthquake (MBE) is the largest earthquake not associated with significant primary surface rupture. The MBE is estimated for the Basin and Range province considering 22 earthquakes from the province and a simple physical model of a circular rupture in the seismogenic zone. In the Basin and Range province, the number of historical earthquakes in the magnitude range 6 to 6.6 without significant surface rupture is clearly greater than the two events below magnitude 6.6 with primary surface rupture. Based on the historical record, the MBE for the Basin and Range province is magnitude 6.6, but given the various uncertainties involved, the usage of a magnitude value of 6.5 may be more reasonable for seismic hazard studied.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Ground Cracks Associated with the 1994 Double Spring Flat Earthquake, West-Central Nevada Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, December 1, 2003; 93(6): 2762 - 2768.

				Integrated Seismic-Hazard Analysis of the Wasatch Front, Utah Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, June 1, 2002; 92(5): 1904 - 1922.

				How active is a passive margin? Paleoseismicity in northeastern Brazil Geology, July 1, 2000; 28(7): 591 - 594.