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

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Electronic Supplement Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (4) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Giammarinaro, M. S. Articles by Leta, M. Search for Related Content GeoRef GeoRef Citation

Investigation of Surface Geology and Intensity Variability in the Palermo, Italy, Urban Area after the 6 September 2002 Earthquake

¹ Dipartimento di Geologia e Geodesia
Università di Palermo, Italy
Via Archirafi 26
90123 Palermo, Italy
Giammar{at}unipa.it
 (M.S.G, M.L.)

² Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica
Via di Vigna Murata, 605
00143 Rome, Italy
tertulliani{at}ingv.it
 (A.T, G.G.)

For the first time, a high-density macroseismic survey has been carried out in the city of Palermo, Italy, after the 6 September 2002, M_w 5.9 earthquake. The aim was to investigate the spatial relationships and correlations between intensity data and surface geology. A very dense database has been created to store a large amount of macroseismic, stratigraphic, and geotechnical information. A Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tool, called City-GIS, enables data processing by instruments and research keys devoted to seismic hazard. The results show the feasibility of such procedures, especially for large cities where the surface geology critically influences the ground motion. Our analysis, made on the basis of more than 2000 intensity observations scattered in the Palermo urban area, demonstrates the role of the variable geology in the variability of shaking. Significant variations of intensity are related to the geometry of the geologic formations present in the area. Intensities increase by about one intensity class inside those city sectors where the stratigraphic succession is characterized by a thin layer of calcarenites overlying very thick layers of silty clayey sands. Major amplification of up to two classes occurs in alluvial deposits in the southeastern part of Palermo, as expected. These results extend our knowledge of the seismic response in the outskirts of Palermo, which until now, was limited to the city center.

Online material: Macroseismic survey form and data distribution.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				F. Cara, G. Cultrera, R. M. Azzara, V. De Rubeis, G. Di Giulio, M. S. Giammarinaro, P. Tosi, P. Vallone, and A. Rovelli Microtremor Measurements in the City of Palermo, Italy: Analysis of the Correlation between Local Geology and Damage Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, June 1, 2008; 98(3): 1354 - 1372. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Di Giulio, R. M. Azzara, G. Cultrera, M. S. Giammarinaro, P. Vallone, and A. Rovelli Effect of Local Geology on Ground Motion in the City of Palermo, Italy, as Inferred from Aftershocks of the 6 September 2002 Mw 5.9 Earthquake Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, December 1, 2005; 95(6): 2328 - 2341. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Calderoni, A. Rovelli, G. Cultrera, R. M. Azzara, and G. Di Giulio Assessment of Ground Motion in Palermo, Italy, during the 6 September 2002 Mw 5.9 Earthquake Using Source Scaling Law Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, December 1, 2005; 95(6): 2342 - 2363. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]