Seismology and Earthquake Risk (250MEG012) – Course 2025/26 PDF
Contents
Historical aspects. Seismology in the world. Associations and scientific institutions. Seismological observatories.Seismological Service institutions in Spain, in Catalonia and in the world.
Specific Objectives
To know seismology in the history and in the world.
Dedication
2h Large group + 2h 48m Self StudyPlate tectonics. Global, regional and local tectonics. Importance of local and regional tectonics. Compresive, distensive and tear regimes. Regional and local stress tensors. Historic earthquakes. The Lisbon 1755 earthquake. Duality of the study of earthquakes.: science and engineering, seismology and earthquake engineering.
Specific Objectives
Understanding the causes of earthquakes in different tectonic environments. Know the main characteristics of earthquakes and their effects.
Dedication
4h 30m Large group + 6h 18m Self StudyEquation of motion. Infinite, semi-infinite and stratified media. Internal waves and surface waves. Main seismic phases observed in the Earth. Internal waves: near, far and shadow zone earthquakes near, far and shaded area. Reflected and refracted waves. Phases of deep earthquakes. Surface Rayleigh and Love waves. Other seismic waves. Anatomy of seismograms. Geometry of the arrival of internal waves: SV, SH, SVV, SVH, PV, PH, angles of incidence of the P wave, azimuth, angle of polarization of the wave S. To determine an epicenter with data from a single station, using the polarities and amplitudes of the P wave, arrivals of P and S waves and travel time tables of internal waves. Three approaches are suggested: graphic, velocity models and seismological tables. Determine the geographical coordinates of the epicenter and origin time. Discuse the problem of determining the depth of the earthquake. Detailed analysis of the ground motion caused by a Rayleigh surface wave. Determine the station-epicenter azimuth.
Specific Objectives
To know the main waves propagating in continuous infinite, semi-infinite and stratified media.. To know the main seismic phases observed on Earth. To study the geometry of the arrival of the internal waves P and S. Learn how to make a determination epicentral. Characterize the ground motion caused by seismic shocks.
Dedication
5h 30m Large group + 3h Medium group + 11h 54m Self StudyConcept of macro-seismic intensity. Main scales. The MM'56 and the EMS'98 scales. Seismic magnitude, seismic moment and energy. Magnitude of internal and surface waves. Standard formulas. Local magnitude formulas. Empirical equations and formulas. Determine the magnitude of an earthquake from a Rayleigh wave. Using empirical formulas for estimating the other parameters that define the size of the earthquake: intensity, magnitude of internal waves, seismic moment and energy.
Specific Objectives
To know the macro-seismic quantification of the size of earthquakes. To know, at an applied level, the main parameters used to determine the size of earthquakes. To learn to estimate the magnitude of an earthquake and other parameters associated with it.
Dedication
5h Large group + 2h Medium group + 2h Laboratory classes + 12h 36m Self StudyIsoseismal zones. Variation of intensity with distance. Laws attenuation laws. Applications to seismic hazard analysis. Other instrumental parameters of the maximum ground motion. Spectral parameters: response spectra. Empirical relationships. Main attenuation laws. Relationship with the seismic hazard.
Specific Objectives
To learn about macro-seismic attenuation laws. To know about attenuation laws of other instrumental parameters.
Dedication
4h Large group + 5h 36m Self StudyHistorical Introduction to the mechanism of earthquakes. The elastic rebound. Parameters of the causing fault: azimuth, dip and slip. Conjugate faults. Normal, reverse and shear faults. The inverse problem. simplified models: simple pair of forces, double pair without moment. Radiative models for P and S waves. P waves based mechanism: azimuth, emergence angle and polarity. The focal sphere. Stereo-graphic projections. Conjugate plans. Graphical representation. Multiple mechanisms. Linking tectonics and focal mechanism. Advanced methods of full waveform inversion. Focal mechanism catalogs. Determine a mechanism from the first P wave arrivals.
Specific Objectives
To know and to understand the fundamentals of the mechanism of the source of earthquakes. Learn estimate focal mechanisms from the polarities of the arrivals of the waves P. To learn how to determine a focal mechanism and associated parameters.
Dedication
4h 30m Large group + 3h 30m Laboratory classes + 11h 12m Self StudyParameters of interest in earthquake engineering. Response and response spectra. Seismic hazard and risk. Seismic damage. Earthquake-resistant design. Realization and discussion of problems.
Specific Objectives
To introduce students to earthquake engineering. Realization and discussion of selected problems
Dedication
1h 30m Large group + 1h 30m Laboratory classes + 4h 11m Self Study