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Ground-Motion Predictions for California — Comparisons of Three Prediction Equations

Open-File Report 2020-1028
Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
By:  and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20201028

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Abstract

We systematically evaluate datasets, functional forms, independent parameters of estimation, and resulting ground-motion predictions (as median and aleatory variability) of the Graizer and Kalkan (2015, 2016) (GK15) ground-motion prediction equation (GMPE) with the next generation of attenuation project (NGA-West2) models of Abrahamson and others (2014) (ASK14) and Boore and others (2014) (BSSA14) for application to earthquakes in California. This evaluation is performed in three stages: (1) by comparing attenuation, magnitude scaling, style-of-faulting effects, site response, response-spectral shape and amplitude, and standard deviations; (2) by comparing median predictions, standard deviations, and analyses of residuals with respect to near-field (within 20 kilometers [km] of the fault) and intermediate-field (50 to 70 km from the fault) records from major earthquakes in California, and (3) by comparing total, intra-event, and inter-event residual distributions among the GMPEs with respect to a near-source (within 80 km of the fault) subset of the NGA-West2 database covering 975 ground motions from 73 events in California ranging from moment magnitude 5 to 7.36. The results reveal that the scaling features of the GK15 GMPE and the ASK14 and BSSA14 GMPEs are, in general, similar in terms of distance attenuation but differ in terms of scaling with magnitude, style of faulting, and site effects. The original standard deviations of GMPEs are also different. For the near-source California subset, the three GMPEs result in standard deviations that are similar to each other. The mixed-effect residuals analysis shows that the GK15 GMPE has no perceptible trend with respect to the independent predictors.

Suggested Citation

Kalkan, E., and Graizer, V., 2020, Ground-motion predictions for California — Comparisons of three prediction equations: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2020–1028, 28 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20201028.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Dataset and Model Applicability Range
  • Functional Forms and Parameters of GMPEs
  • Stage 1: Comparisons of Median Predictions
  • Stage 2: Comparisons with Earthquake Data
  • Stage 3: Comparisons of Residuals Using the NGA-West2 Database
  • Conclusions
  • Data and Resources
  • References Cited

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Ground-motion predictions for California — Comparisons of three prediction equations
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2020-1028
DOI 10.3133/ofr20201028
Year Published 2020
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Earthquake Hazards Program
Description vii, 28 p.
Country United States
State California
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details