IAG-IASPEI 2017

Presentation information

Oral

IASPEI Symposia » S04. Historical and macroseismic studies of earthquakes

[S04-2] Historical and macroseismic studies of earthquakes II

Thu. Aug 3, 2017 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Room 403 (Kobe International Conference Center 4F, Room 403)

Chairs: Ritsuko S. Matsu'ura (Association for the Development of Earthquake Prediction) , Kenji Satake (University of Tokyo)

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

[S04-2-01] The Innsbruck earthquake of 22nd December 1689

Christa Hammerl (ZAMG, Vienna, Austria)

invited

Knowledge of historical earthquakes has become more important in recent years. Complete and accurate information is necessary in order to carry out a coherent seismic hazard assessment of a specific area. In particular, since the introduction of Eurocode-8, the building code for the construction of earthquake-resistant buildings in Europe, the importance of new assessments of historical earthquakes due to the state of the art has increased. For seismic hazard assessment, earthquakes that occurred prior to the instrumental period must be considered. Due to the relatively long "return periods" of stronger earthquakes in Austria, the interpretation of historical earthquakes is of great importance.
The historical seismicity in Tyrol is characterized by a moderate activity and is one of the most seismic active areas of Austria.
The information on the quake of 22nd December 1689 shows that the damage in Innsbruck and Hall in Tyrol was similar to the damage resulting from the quake in 1670 (epicentre Hall, epicentral intensity=8 EMS-98). The 1689 quake caused fatalities in Hall and in Innsbruck.
The epicentral intensity was estimated with 7-8 EMS-98.
Several new sources have been found in the archives for the earthquake of 1689. A contemporary source from the city archive in Hall in Tyrol contained unknown information for this quake. The source describes the damage of the earthquake of 1689 in Hall, which leads to much more detailed knowledge of its impact on the city.
Although the event discussed occur rarely, earthquakes of such intensity can cause personal
suffering and huge economic losses. It is therefore important to investigate the effects of historical earthquakes according to the state of the art.
Reports about this earthquake are known from the following cities: Augsburg, Hall in Tyrol (with St. Magdalena in Halltal), Innsbruck (Allerheiligen, Arzl, Hoetting and Muehlau) and Schwaz.