The recordings are fundamental for understanding and characterizing the physics of seismogenic failure, the generation and propagation of damaging ground motions, and the shaking performance of structures. American engineers returned from these meetings convinced there was an immediate need for the United States to develop a rugged seismograph able to record potentially damaging ground motions and to monitor the response of critical structures during strong local earthquakes. The NSMP is part of the USGS Geologic Division's Western Earthquake Hazards Team which is located at the USGS Western Region Headquarters in Menlo Park, California. Return to top of page. Operate borehole and surface arrays in Northern and Southern California.
Conduct analyses as data becomes available.
Compile seismic, geotechnical and geologic borehole data for critical interpretation of existing strong-motion recordings of damaging earthquakes. Coordinate, advise, and expand federal programs for installation of instrumentation arrays in structures in cooperation with 15 other agencies. Develop equations to predict strong motion as a function of earthquake magnitude, distance, and geologic conditions. Develop and evaluate surface wave inversion techniques as a cost effective alternative to drilling boreholes and borehole characterizations of local site response in order to interpret critical strong-motion recordings of damaging earthquakes. Analyze and publish results from array measurements of surface waves.