DOI: 10.5066/p92miz2r
title: Memphis Urban Seismic Hazard Maps, v2008

description: Memphis has a dense urban population near faults capable of producing major earthquakes. A high probability of a moderate earthquake in the near future (e.g., a 25-40% probability of a magnitude 6.0 or greater in the next 50 years) from the New Madrid seismic zone, and relatively low regional attenuation (in other words, seismic waves do damage over a greater area in this region than for the same magnitude earthquake in the west) necessitates being prepared for earthquake hazards. This dataset provides maps of probabilistic and deterministic earthquake ground motions and liquefaction hazard for the Memphis area. Deterministic ground motion maps show different types of motions for a single specific hypothetical earthquake (scenario or magnitude and location). Deterministic liquefaction maps show the likelihood of exceeding a certain level of liquefaction given the scenario ground motions. Probabilistic ground motion maps show different types of motions for various probability levels, for example, the ground motions that are expected to be exceeded with a 2% probablity in 50 years. Similarly, probabilistic liquefaction maps show the level of liquefaction that is expected to be exceeded for various probability levels. The following maps are available: Probabilistic Maps (graphic.zip/posters.zip) Peak Acceleration (%g) with 10% Probability of Exceedance in 50 Years: pdf, jpg, poster Peak Acceleration (%g) with 2% Probability of Exceedance in 50 Years: pdf, jpg, poster 0.2 sec Spectral Acceleration (%g) with 10% Probability of Exceedance in 50 Years: pdf, jpg, poster 0.2 sec Spectral Acceleration (%g) with 2% Probability of Exceedance in 50 Years: pdf, jpg, poster 1.0 sec Spectral Acceleration (%g) with 10% Probability of Exceedance in 50 Years: pdf, jpg, poster 1.0 sec Spectral Acceleration (%g) with 2% Probability of Exceedance in 50 Years: pdf, jpg, poster Deterministic (Scenario) Maps (graphic.zip/posters.zip) Peak Acceleration (%g) for a M7.7 earthquake located northwest of Memphis, on a fault coincident with the southern linear zone of modern seismicity: pdf, jpg, poster 0.2 sec Spectral Acceleration for a M7.7 earthquake located northwest of Memphis, on a fault coincident with the southern linear zone of modern seismicity: pdf, jpg, poster 1.0 sec Spectral Acceleration (%g) for a M7.7 earthquake located northwest of Memphis, on a fault coincident with the southern linear zone of modern seismicity: pdf, jpg, poster Peak Acceleration (%g) for a M6.2 earthquake located northwest of Memphis, on a fault at the closest end of the southern linear zone of modern seismicity: pdf, jpg, poster 0.2 sec Spectral Acceleration for a M6.2 earthquake located northwest of Memphis, on a fault at the closest end of the southern linear zone of modern seismicity: pdf, jpg, poster 1.0 sec Spectral Acceleration (%g) for a M6.2 earthquake located northwest of Memphis, on a fault at the closest end of the southern linear zone of modern seismicity: pdf, jpg, poster Other Maps (graphic.zip) MMI Hazard for a M7.7 earthquake located northwest of Memphis, on a fault coincident with the southern linear zone of modern seismicity, geology included: gif PGA Hazard for a M7.7 earthquake located northwest of Memphis, on a fault coincident with the southern linear zone of modern seismicity, geology included: gif Memphis/Shelby County average shear-wave velocity over 30 meters: gif The deterministic and probabilistic maps are also available as gridded data values (ascii.zip) Probabilistic Map Grids PGA with 10% PE in 50 yrs PGA with 2% PE in 50 yrs 0.2 sec SA with 10% PE in 50 yrs 0.2 sec SA with 2% PE in 50 yrs 1.0 sec SA with 10% PE in 50 yrs 1.0 sec SA with 2% PE in 50 yrs Deterministic Map Grids PGA for M7.7 scenario earthquake PGA for M6.2 scenario earthquake 0.2 sec SA for M7.7 scenario earthquake 0.2 sec SA for M6.2 scenario earthquake 1.0 sec SA for M7.7 scenario earthquake 1.0 sec SA for M6.2 scenario earthquake and ArcInfo Point Shapefiles (arcgis.zip) with accompanying ArccGIS style file (Memphis.style) Probabilistic Point Grids PGA with 10% PE in 50 yrs PGA with 2% PE in 50 yrs 0.2 sec SA with 10% PE in 50 yrs 0.2 sec SA with 2% PE in 50 yrs 1.0 sec SA with 10% PE in 50 yrs 1.0 sec SA with 2% PE in 50 yrs Deterministic Point Grids PGA for M7.7 scenario earthquake PGA for M6.2 scenario earthquake 0.2 sec SA for M7.7 scenario earthquake 0.2 sec SA for M6.2 scenario earthquake 1.0 sec SA for M7.7 scenario earthquake 1.0 sec SA for M6.2 scenario earthquake Liquefaction Potential maps (liquefaction.zip) Probabilistic Maps Liquefaction Potential Index &gt;5 with 2% Probability of Exceedance in 50 Years: pdf, gif Liquefaction Potential Index &gt;5 with 5% Probability of Exceedance in 50 Years: pdf, gif Liquefaction Potential Index &gt;5 (%g) with 10% Probability of Exceedance in 50 Years: pdf, gif Liquefaction Potential Index &gt;15 with 2% Probability of Exceedance in 50 Years: pdf, gif Liquefaction Potential Index &gt;15 with 5% Probability of Exceedance in 50 Years: pdf, gif Liquefaction Potential Index &gt;15 with 10% Probability of Exceedance in 50 Years: pdf, gif Deterministic (Scenario) Maps Liquefaction Potential Index &gt;5 for a M7.7 earthquake located northwest of Memphis, on a fault coincident with the southern linear zone of modern seismicity: pdf, gif Liquefaction Potential Index &gt;15 for a M7.7 earthquake located northwest of Memphis, on a fault coincident with the southern linear zone of modern seismicity: pdf, gif Liquefaction Potential Index &gt;5 for a M6.2 earthquake located northwest of Memphis, on a fault at the closest end of the southern linear zone of modern seismicity: pdf, gif Liquefaction Potential Index &gt;15 for a M6.2 earthquake located northwest of Memphis, on a fault at the closest end of the southern linear zone of modern seismicity: pdf, gif