Class 3

•Magnitude and Intensity

•Seismic zones
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•
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•
• In this scale, whole numbers are used to
describe magnitude
• For every 1unit increase in magnitude, the
wave amplitude is increased 10times and
about 31 times energy is released
• Relationship between energy released by an
earthquake and its magnitude is given by
Richter as follows:-
E=energy released
Log₁₀E =11.4+1.5 M M=magnitude on Richter scale
Classification of earthquakes based on
their Magnitude
Group Magnitude Annual Average no
Great 8 and higher 1
Major 7-7.9 18
Strong 6-6.9 250
Moderate 5-5.9 800
Light 4-4.9 ~6200(approx)
Minor 3-3.9 ~49,000(aprox)
Very Minor <3 ~9,00,000 per daily
 Intensity
• Intensity is qualitative measure of earthquake.
It is a way of measuring or rating the effects of
an earthquake at different sites
• It is generally expressed as Roman numerals
(I,II,III,IV,…)
• The assignment of intensity is by visual
observations and experiences of people
• Intensity data is used for the development of
seismic risk map of an area or country.
 Factors affecting Intensity
• Earthquake magnitude
• Distance from hypocenter or Epicenter
• Type of foundation material
• Building style
• Duration of Shaking
 MSK Intensity Scale
MSK intensity scale takes into account the type
of structure,percentage of damage to each
type of structure,grade of damage to different
type of structures and details of intensity scale
 1. Type of structures
Type of Structures Definitions
A Buildings in field stone, rural structures, unburnt-
brick houses , clay houses

B Ordinary brick buildings,buildings of the concrete

block and prefabricated type,half-timbered
structures,buildings in natural hewn stone

C Reinforced buildings, well built wooden structures

 2.Definition of quantity
Quantity Percentage
Single,few About 5
Many About 50
Most About 75
3.Classification of damage to buildings
MMI Scale(Modified Mercalli Scale)
PGA ,”The Peak Ground Acceleration”
• The peak ground acceleration is the maxium
ground acceleration experienced by the
ground during shaking,is one of the way to
express the severity of shaking
 Magnitude Vs Intensity
Magnitude Intensity
Quantitative estimate of earthquake Qualitative estimate of earthquake
It is measure of earthquake’s size in the Intensity is an indicator of the severity of
form of amount of strain energy released the of the earthquake caused due to
by the fault rupture shaking of ground at a given location
It is a single value Different at different locations, thus many
values

Richter Magnitude Mercalli Intensity Acceleration

2 and less I-II
3 III
4 IV-V
5 VI-VII
6 VII-VIII
7 IX –X
8 and up XI-XII
Usually not felt by people<.1-.19%
Felt indoors by some .2-.49%
Felt by most people .5-1.9
Felt by all,building damage ,2-9.9
People scared,moderate damage 10-19.9
Major damage 20-99.9
Damage nearly total,over 100=1g
 Isoseismals
• An imaginary contour line joining places of
equal earthquake intensity is called Isoseismal
and a map showing different isoseismals for a
particular earthquake is called as an
isoseismal map
X
XI

Epicenter
Isoseismal
 Uses of isoseismals
• It provide important documents of seismic
effects of earthquakes
• Isoseismal maps of past earthquakes also help
us to understand the nature of the
earthquakes in a particular region
• They are also used for long term planning of
structures and for development of seismic
zoning maps
 Seismic Zoning
• Seismic zoning can be defined as dividing a
country or region into smaller zones on the
basis of their seismicity or earthquake
activity.(Intensity of damage)
• It depends upon mainly on SEISMIC HISTORY
OF REGION and THE TECTONIC FEATURES OF
THE PLACE
 Use of zoning map
• It provides informatin of expected earthquake
effects in terms of Maximum Intensity of
earthquake (MMI) or ground motion
characteristics at a particular region
• To know about various design forces
depending upon site location
Tectonic features of India
• The three major tectonic plates of India are
1. Northern Himalayas
2. Plaines of the Ganges and other rivers
3. The peninsular region
 Northern Himalayas
• The Himalayan ranges comprises of highly
seismic zone which is very unstable
• Stretching from Kashmir to Assam is a long
trust fault known as The great boundary fault
 Plains of Ganges and other rivers
• They are moderately seismic areas
• This zone is made up of alluvial deposits which
are laid into great depression present in front
of the Himalayan ranges
• Normal faults along Narmada,Goddavari,and
Koyna rifts are also reactivated occasionaly
 Peninsular India
• The peninsular part of India consists of
ancient rocks. Erosion has exposed the roots
of the old mountains.
• The rocks are had but softened by weathering.
• Very small earthquakes occur in this area
SEISMIC ZONES IN INDIA
 INTRODUCTION
• Geographical statistics of India show that almost 54% of the land is vulnerable to
earthquakes.
• The Indian subcontinent is divided into five seismic zones with respect to the severity of the
earthquakes.
• The classification of the zones has been done by the geologist and scientist as early as 1956
when a 3-zone (Severe, Light and Minor hazard) Seismic Zoning Map of India was produced.
• The bureau of Indian standards is the official agency for publishing the seismic hazard maps
and codes.
• It has brought out versions of seismic zoning map: a six zone map in 1962, a seven zone map
in 1966, and a five zone map 1970/1984.
• The last of these maps is currently valid.
• This map was created based on the values of maximum earthquake intensities recorded in
various parts of the country.
• Each zone indicates the effects of an earthquake at a particular place based on the
observations of the affected areas and can also be described using a descriptive scale like
Modified Mercalli intensity scale or the Medvedev-Sponheuer-Karnik scale.
 DIVISION OF ZONES
About Seismic Zoning Map of India
The Geological Survey of India (G. S. I.) first published the seismic zoning map of the country in the year 1935. With numerous modifications
made afterwards, this map was initially based on the amount of damage suffered by the different regions of India because of earthquakes. Color
coded in different shades of the color red, this map shows the four distinct zones of India. Following are the varied seismic zones of the nation,
which are prominently shown in the map:

Zone – I : Area without any damage.

Zone – II : This is said to be the least active seismic zone.
Zone – III : It is included in the moderate seismic zone.
Zone – IV : This is considered to be the high seismic zone.
Zone - V : It is the highest seismic zone.

• Zone 1
Area without any damage
• Zone 2
– This region is liable to MSK VI or less and is classified as the Low Damage Risk Zone.
– The IS code assigns zone factor of 0.10 (maximum horizontal acceleration that can be experienced by a structure
in this zone is 10 % of gravitational acceleration) for Zone 2.
 SEISMIC ACTIVE ZONES
• Zone 3

– The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, parts of Kashmir, Western Himalayas fall under this zone.

– This zone is classified as Moderate Damage Risk Zone which is liable to MSK VII. and also 7.8 The IS code assigns zone factor of
0.18 for Zone 3.

• Zone 4

– This zone is called the High Damage Risk Zone and covers areas liable to MSK VIII. The IS code assigns zone factor of 0.24 for Zone
4.

– The Indo- Gangetic basin and the capital of the country (Delhi), Jammu and Bihar fall in Zone 4. In Maharashtra Patan area(
Koyananager) also in zone 4.
• Zone 5

– Zone 5 covers the areas with the highest risks zone that suffers earthquakes of intensity MSK IX or greater.

– The IS code assigns zone factor of 0.36 for Zone 5.

– Structural designers use this factor for earthquake resistant design of structures in Zone 5.

– It is referred to as the Very High Damage Risk Zone.

– The state of Kashmir, Punjab, the western and central Himalayas, the North-East Indian region and the Rann of Kutch fall in this

zone.

– Generally, the areas having trap or basaltic rock are prone to earthquakes

– The design of a seismic resistant building involves the usage of seismic coefficients.

– For the purpose manipulating these coefficients the country is divided into FIVE zones ( as recommended in IS 1897 – 1984)
 SEISMIC ZONING MAP OF INDIA:
Importance of India’s Seismic Zoning Map:
This kind of map is mainly used by Department of Disaster Management of the different state governments in
the country. This map helps them in planning for a natural disaster like earthquake. An Indian seismic zoning
map assists one in identifying the lowest, moderate as well as highest hazardous or earthquake prone areas in
India. Even such maps are looked into before constructing any high rise building so as to check the level of
seismology in any particular area. This in turn results in saving life in the long run.

Last updated on 4th January 2012