Deterministic ground motion modeling with target earthquakes and site effects in eastern Azerbaijan

In the context of assessing seismic hazard, accurately predicting ground motion stands out as a crucial task. Achieving precision in ground motion modeling proves valuable in revealing the actual pattern, even when faced with insufficient data on soil structure, provided there is precise information about the seismic source. This study introduces a methodology for calculating local- and near-field ground motion, expressed in peak ground acceleration (PGA) and intensity values. The deterministic approach is employed, incorporating source characteristics and one-dimensional (1D) site effects. For the chosen test area, the Ismayilli-Shamakhi region on the southeastern slope of the Greater Caucasus in Azerbaijan, two seismic scenarios are investigated: the 1902 Shamakhi earthquake (magnitude M = 6.8) and the November 25, 2000 Baku-Caspian earthquake (two shocks with moment magnitude Mw = 6.08 and 6.18). Different soil types are considered to validate the proposed methodological procedures. The analysis involves the computation of peak ground acceleration motion for two scenario earthquakes: a local-field event with M = 6.8 and a near-field event with Mw = 6.5, representing the average magnitude of the 2000 Baku-Caspian earthquake. The computed peak ground acceleration values are then used to derive intensities. Notably, the 1902 Shamakhi earthquake and the 2000 Baku-Caspian earthquake exhibit similar trends on surface PGA values. The local-field scenario estimates PGA values ranging from 77 to 328 gal, corresponding to MSK-64 scale intensity levels of VII-IX. The near-field scenario, with PGA values ranging from 28 to 62 gal, aligns with MSK-64 intensity levels of VI–VII. In the final assessment, the amplification factor in the study area varies between 0.55 and 0.83. The seismic hazard level is identified as high in the southern and southeastern regions, particularly in areas with soft shallow and medium-depth soils, indicating a high potential for ground motion amplification.