An evaluation of seismic hazard parameters in southern Turkey

To investigate the characteristics of earthquake hazard parameters as a mea ns of identifying different zones of seismicity, we have compiled a catalog ue of about 1850 moderate to large-sized earthquakes with magnitudes m grea ter than or equal to 4.0 or greater in southern Turkey for the time period from 1900 to 1990. Several methods have been applied to the earthquake cata logue to assess seismic hazard. The study area is divided into 77 overlappi ng cells of 2 degrees size. Theoretical calculations were made for the pred iction of maximum magnitude, intensity, b-values, strain energy release and corresponding m(3) and peak ground acceleration levels for a given period of time. The resultant seismic hazard for each parameter is depicted as a c ontour map to indicate lateral variations in areas of seismic source. A com bination and evaluation of various hazard parameters resulted in more reaso nable estimates of hazard. It is found that the most hazardous seismic zone s are the Rhodes and Burdur zones where the level of peak ground accelerati on reaches up to 280 cm s(-2) for an average return period of 100 years.