A Time\-Dependent Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Model For The Central Apennines (Italy)

Earthquake hazard in the Central Apennines, Italy has been investigated using time-independent probabilistic (simple Poissonian) and time-dependent probabilistic (renewal) models. We developed a hazard model that defines the sources for potential earthquakes and earthquake recurrence relations. Both characteristic and floating earthquake hypothesismodel is used for the Central Apennines faults (M>5.9). The models for each fault segment are developed based on recent geological and geophysical studies, as well as historical earthquakes. Historical seismicity, active faulting framework and inferred seismogenic behavior (expressed in terms of slip rates, recurrence intervals, elapsed times) constitute the main quantitative information used in the model assignment. We calculate the background hazard from Mw 4.6-5.9 earthquakes using the historical catalogs of CPTI04 (Working Group, 2004) and obtain a-value distribution over the study area. This is because the earthquakes occur in areas where they cannot be assigned to a particular fault. Therefore, their recurrence is considered by the historic occurrence of earthquakes, calculating the magnitude-frequency distributions. We found good agreement between expected earthquake rates from historical earthquake catalog and earthquake source model. The probabilities are obtained from time-dependent models characterized by a Brownian Passage Time function on recurrence interval with aperiodicity of 0.5. Earthquake hazard is quantified in terms of peak ground acceleration and spectral accelerations for natural periods of 0.2 and 1.0 seconds. The ground motions are determined for rock conditions. We have used the attenuation relationships obtained for the Apennines by Malagnini et al. (2000) together with the relationships predicted from Sabetta and Pugliese (1996) and Ambraseys et al. (1996) for the Italian and European regions, respectively. Generally, time dependent hazard is increased and the peaks appear to shift to the ESE of the central Apennines with respect to the results of the Possionian source model. In order to present the most likely earthquake magnitude or the most likely source-site distance and determine predominant sources of seismic hazard we deaggreagted the seismic hazard for 1.0 Hz PSA and PGA in some cities across Central Apennines.