Geology topics
Publications and source records attributed to R. L. Porcella.
This report presents accelerogram data of strong ground motion and the response of representative engineered structures during moderate to large earthquakes recorded during 1994.
This report presents accelerogram data of strong ground motion and the response of representative engineered structures during moderate to large earthquakes recorded during 1993.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
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The Whittier Narrows earthquake sequence (local magnitude, M L = 5.9), which caused over 358-million dollars damage, indicates that assessments of earthquake hazards in the Los Angeles metropolitan area may be underestimated. The sequence ruptured a previously unidentified thrust fault that may be part of a large system of thrust faults that extends across the entire east-west length of the northern margin of the Los Angeles basin. Peak horizontal accelerations from the main shock, which were measured at ground level and in structures, were as high as 0.6 g (where g is the acceleration of gravity at sea level) within 50 kilometers of the epicenter. The distribution of the modified Mercalli intensity VII reflects a broad north-south elongated zone of damage that is approximately centered on the main shock epicenter.
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This report summarizes the data from near-in strong-motion accelerograph stations operated by the U.S. Geological Survey in the Imperial Valley of California at the time of the October 15, 1979 Imperial Valley earthquake. The purpose of this report is to alert others as to the nature of the strong-motion data that is available from this event. In order to provide the information in a timely manner, the report has been limited to a summary of the data. A similar preliminary report of strong-motion data collected by the Office of Strong-Motion Studies of the California Division of Mines and Geology has already been issued. A more complete report of all of the strong ground motion data is contemplated. This will require the cooperation of all of the agencies in both the U.S. and Mexico that operate strong-motion instruments in the region. A report on the processing of the data from near-in stations is in preparation. The moderate-size (magnitude 6.4) October 15, 1979 Imperial Valley earthquake was instrumentally located on the Imperial fault approximately 25 km southeast of El Centro, California. This location is approximately the same as that of the 1940 Imperial Valley earthquake.
This report represents a joint effort by the OSMS, CDMG and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The report summarizes all strong-motion accelerograph records recovered from the August 6, 1979 Coyote Lake earthquake. The majority of accelerograms were recorded at stations operated by the OSMS-CDMG and USGS; the latter organization operates a network of instruments that belong to various federal agencies. Documentation of strong-motion data for the Coyote Lake earthquake best serves the scientific community if presented as a single data set. Reasonable precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of the material presented; however, the preliminary nature of the report makes it subject to change upon further verification. Measurements and scalings of the accelerograms are not recommended for use in detailed studies because of possible photo copy distortions during reproduction. A report on the processed data from close-in stations is in preparation and will be issued in the near future.