A probabilistic seismic hazard model for Greenland

Abstract

Greenland belongs to a stable continental region where seismic activity is low. Due to this factor and low population, only one probabilistic seismic hazard model of Greenland has been published, showing only a peak ground acceleration map. We constructed a probabilistic seismic hazard model for Greenland in order to complete our global earthquake risk map. We used a smoothed seismicity method due to the lack of recognized active faults. An earthquake magnitude-frequency distribution was derived based on the recorded earthquakes from 1933 to 2013. We assumed a maximum earthquake magnitude of 7.0 for the distribution, given that the magnitude of the largest recorded tectonic earthquake in the region is about 6.0. The NGA-East ground motion models were employed for ground shaking calculations. Finally, we presented seismic hazard maps in terms of peak ground acceleration, spectral acceleration at 0.2 ​s and 1.0 ​s, and hazard curves for several of the major cities.

Keywords

• Probabilistic seismic hazard
• Greenland
• NGA-East