Site Response

map showing general geologic units near Seattle; modified land underlies most of the harbor and city area Improving the reliability and usability of detailed seismic hazard maps is a major goal of multidisciplinary studies underway in and with the USGS. Specific objectives include incorporating earthquake site response, strong ground motion, and shallow shear velocity in the urban hazard maps for Seattle and the Puget Lowland urban corridor. Arthur Frankel, project leader.

Shear-wave velocity measurements

Strong ground motion

Ground Amplification from Earthquakes