Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Seismic hazard assessment in the megacity of Blida (Algeria) and its surrounding regions using parametric-historic procedure

  • ORIGINAL ARTICLE
  • Published:
Journal of Seismology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The region of Blida is characterized by a relatively high seismic activity, pointed especially during the past two centuries. Indeed, it experienced a significant number of destructive earthquakes such as the earthquakes of March 2, 1825 and January 2, 1867, with intensity of X and IX, respectively. This study aims to investigate potential seismic hazard in Blida city and its surrounding regions. For this purpose, a typical seismic catalog was compiled using historical macroseismic events that occurred over a period of a few hundred years, and the recent instrumental seismicity dating back to 1900. The parametric-historic procedure introduced by Kijko and Graham (1998, 1999) was applied to assess seismic hazard in the study region. It is adapted to deal with incomplete catalogs and does not use any subjective delineation of active seismic zones. Because of the lack of recorded strong motion data, three ground prediction models have been considered, as they seem the most adapted to the seismicity of the study region. Results are presented as peak ground acceleration (PGA) seismic hazard maps, showing expected peak accelerations with 10% probability of exceedance in 50-year period. As the most significant result, hot spot regions with high PGA values are mapped. For example, a PGA of 0.44 g has been found in a small geographical area centered on Blida city.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abramowitz M, Stegun IA (1970) Handbook of mathematical functions, 9th edn. Dover Publ., New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Aki M (1965) Maximum likelihood estimates of b in formula log N = a-bM and its confidence limits. Bull Earthq Res Inst Tokyo Univ 43:237–239

    Google Scholar 

  • Ambraseys NN, Bommer JJ (1991) The attenuation of ground accelerations in Europe. Earthq Eng Str Dyn 20(12):1179–1202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ambraseys NN, Vogt J (1988) Material for the investigation of the seismicity of the region of Algiers. Eur Earthq Eng 3:16–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Ambraseys NN, Simpson KA, Bommer JJ (1996) Prediction of horizontal response spectra in Europe. Earthq Eng Struct Dyn 25(4):371–400

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Atkinson GM, Boore DM (2006) Earthquake ground-motion prediction equations for Eastern North America. Bull Seismol Soc Am 96:2181–2205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bellalem F (2007) Estimation de l’aléa sismique en un site, méthodologie et application. Editions universitaires européennes, ISBN: 978-6131573880, 105pp

  • Benhallou H (1985) Les Catastrophes Séismiques de la Région d’Echéliff dans le contexte de la Séismicité Historique de l’Algérie. Thèse de Doctorat es-Sciences, Institut des Sciences de la Terre, Université des Sciences et de la Technologie Houari Boumediène (IST-USTHB), Algiers, Algeria, 294 pp. (in French)

  • Benjamin JR, Cornell CA (1970) Probability, statistics, and decision for civil engineers. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York 684 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Benouar D (1994) An earthquake catalogue for the Maghreb region 20°–38° N, 10° W–. 12° E for the period 1900–1990. Ann Geofis 37:511–528

    Google Scholar 

  • Boudiaf A (1996) Etude sismotéctonique de la région d'Alger et de la Kabylie (Algérie): Utilisation des modèles numériques de terrain (MNT) et de la télédétection pour la reconnaissance des structures tectoniques actives: contribution à l'évaluation de l'aléa sismique. Ph.D. Thesis, Montpellier II University, France

  • Boughacha MS, Ouyed M, Ayadi A, Benhallou H (2004) Seismicity and seismic hazard mapping of northern Algeria: Map of Maximum Calculated Intensities (MCI). J Seismol 8(1):1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Casado L, Molina CS, Giner JJ, Delgado J (2000) Magnitude-intensity relationships in the Ibero-Magrebian region. Nat Hazards 22:269–294

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chesneau M (1892) Note sur les tremblements de terre en Algérie. Mém Ann Min 9:5–46 (in French)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cornell CA (1968) Engineering seismic risk analysis. Bull Seismol Soc Am 58:1583–1606

    Google Scholar 

  • Cornell CA (1971) Probabilistic analysis of damage to structures under seismic loads. In: Howells DA, Haigh IP, Taylor C (eds) Dynamic waves in civil engineering. Proceedings of a conference organized by the Society for Earthquake and Civil Engineering Dynamics, New York, John Wiley, p 473–493

  • Galbis RJ (1932) Catalogo sismico de la zone comprendida entre los meridianos 5° E. y 20° W. de Greenwich y los paralelos 45° y 25° N, Imprenta de Ramona Velasco, Madrid, Spain (in Spanish)

  • Gardner JK, Knopoff L (1974) Is the sequence of earthquake in Southern California, with aftershocks removed, poissonian? Bull Seismol Soc Am 64:1363–1367

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibowicz SJ, Kijko A (1994) An introduction to mining seismology. Aca-demic Press, San Diego 399 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Glangeaud L (1932) Etude géologique de la région littorale de la provence d’Alger. Bull Soc Géol Algér 2:608

    Google Scholar 

  • Glangeaud L, Aymé A, Caire A, Mattauer M, Muraour P (1952) Histoire géologique de la province d’Alger. Publ. XIX CGI, Alger, mono Rég, 1ère série, Algérie, 25, pp 142

  • Guemache MA, Djellit H, Ymmel H, Gharbi S, Dorbath C (2010) The post-Astian Bouinan–Soumâa fault (area of Blida, southern border of the Mitidja Basin, Algeria): Neotectonic expression and implication in seismic hazard assessment. Bull Géol Alger Card Serv 21(1):75–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Harbi A, Sebaï A, Benmedjber A, Ousadou F, Rouchiche Y, Grigahcene A, Aîni D, Bourouis S, Maouche S, Ayadi A (2015) The Algerian homogenized macroseismic database (267–1989): a deeper insight into the Algerian historical seismicity. Seismol Res Lett 86(6):1705–1716

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harbi A, Sebaï A, Rouchiche Y, Maouche S, Ousadou F, Abbès K, Ait Benamar D, Benmedjber M (2017) Reappraisal of the seismicity of the southern edge of the Mitidja Basin (Blida region, north-central Algeria). Seismol Res Lett 88(4):1163–1177

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heddar A, Authemayou C, Djellit H, Yelles K, Déverchère J, Gharbi S, Boudiaf A, Van Vliet Lanoe B (2013) Preliminary results of a paleoseismological analysis along the Sahel fault (Algeria): new evidence for historical seismic events. Quatern Int 302:210–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hée A (1933) La fréquence des tremblements de terre en Algérie, 1911–1932, Monographie du Bureau Central de Séismologie International, pp 99. (in French)

  • Kagan YY, Schoenberg F (2001) Estimation of the upper cutoff parameter for the tapered Pareto distribution (David Vere-Jones' Festschrift, edited by D. J. Daley). J Appl Probab 38A:158–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kijko A (1988) Maximum likelihood estimation of Gutenberg-Richter b parameter for uncertain magnitude values. Pure Appl Geophys 127(4):573–579

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kijko A (2004) Estimation of the maximum earthquake magnitude, m max. Pure Appl Geophys 161(8):1655–1681

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kijko A, Graham G (1998) Parametric-historic procedures for probabilistic seismic hazard analysis, part 1: estimation of maximum regional magnitude. Pure Appl Geophys 152(3):413–442

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kijko A, Graham G (1999) “Parametric-historic” procedure for probabilistic seismic hazard analysis, part II: assessment of seismic hazard at specified site. Pure Appl Geophys 154:1–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kijko A, Sellevoll MA (1989) Estimation of earthquake hazard parameters from incomplete data files, part I: utilization of extreme and complete catalogues with different threshold magnitudes. Bull Seismol Soc Am 79(3):645–654

    Google Scholar 

  • Kijko A, Sellevoll MA (1992) Estimation of earthquake hazard parameters from incomplete data files, part II: incorporation of magnitude heterogeneity. Bull Seismol Soc Am 82(1):120–134

    Google Scholar 

  • Kijko A, Singh M (2011) Statistical tools for maximum possible earthquake magnitude estimation. Acta Geophys 59(4):674–700

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kijko A, Retief JP, Graham G (2002) Seismic hazard and risk assessment for Tulbagh, South Africa: part I—assessment of seismic hazard. Nat Hazards 26:175–201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kramer SL (1996) Geotechnical earthquake engineering. Prentice-Hall International (UK) Limited, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Laouami N, Slimani A, Bouhadad Y, Chatelain JL, Nour A (2006) Evidence for fault-related directionality and localized site effects from strong motion recordings of the 2003 Boumerdes (Algeria) earthquake: consequences on damage distribution and the Algerian seismic code. Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 26:991–1003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mäntyniemi P, Mârza VI, Kijko A, Retief P (2003) A new probabilistic seismic hazard analysis for the Vrancea (Romania) seismogenic zone. Nat Hazards 29:371–385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGuire RK (1976) FORTRAN computer program for seismic risk analysis. U.S. Geol Surv Open File Rep 76–67

  • Meghraoui M (1988) Géologie des zones sismique du nord de l'Algérie: Paléosismologie, Tectonique Active et Synthèse Sismotectonique. Thèse de Doctorat es-Science, U. de Paris XI, France, pp 356

  • Meghraoui M (1990) Blind reverse faulting system associated with the Mont Chenoua-Tipasa earthquake of 29 October 1989 (north-central Algeria). Terra Nova 3:84–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mezcua J, Martinez Solares JM (1983) Sismidad del Area Ibero Mogrebi, Seccion de Sismologia, Instituto Geográfico Nacional, Madrid, Spain (in Spanish)

  • Mokrane A, Ait Messaoud A, Sebai A, Ayadi, A (1994) Les séismes en Algérie de 1365 à 1992, Publication du Centre de Recherche en Astronomie, Astrophysique et Géophysique, Etudes et Surveillance Sismique (ESS), CRAAG, Alger-Bouzaréah, pp 277. (in French)

  • Mourabit T, Abou Elenean KM, Ayadi A, Benouar D, Ben Suleman A, Bezzeghoud M, Cheddafi A, Chourak A, ElGabry M, Harbi A, Hfaiedh M, Hussein H, Kacem J, Ksentini A, Jabour N, Magrin A, Maouche S, Meghraoui M, Ousadou F, Panza GF, Peresan A, Romdhane N, Vaccari F, Zuccolo E (2013) Neo-deterministic seismic hazard assessment in North Africa. J Seismol 18(2):301–318

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peláez Montilla JA, Hamdache M, Casado CL (2003) Seismic hazard in Northern Algeria using spatially smoothed seismicity. Results for peak ground acceleration. Tectonophys 372:105–119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perrey A (1847) Note sur les tremblements de terre en Algérie et dans l’Afrique septentrionale. Mém Acad Sci Arts Belles Lettres Dijon, Années 1845–1846:299–323 (in French)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pisarenko VF, Sornette D (2004) Statistical detection and characterization of a deviation from the Gutenberg-Richter distribution above magnitude 8. Pure Appl Geophys 161:839–864

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pisarenko VF, Sornette A, Sornette D, Rodkin MV (2008) New approach to the characterization of M max and of the tail of the distribution of earthquake magnitudes. Pure Appl Geophys 165:847–888

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rothé JP (1950) Les séismes de Kherrata et la séismicité de l’Algérie. Bull Serv Carte Géol Alger Fourth Ser Géophys 3:1–40 (in French)

    Google Scholar 

  • Roussel J (1973) Les zones actives et la fréquence des séismes en Algérie 1716–1970. Bull Soc Hist Nat Afr Nord 64(3):11–227 (in French)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sieberg A (1932) Erdbeben geographie, Handbuch der Geophysik, vol 4, Berlin, pp 687–1005 (in German)

  • Stewart JP, Douglas J, Javanbarg M, Bozorgnia Y, Abrahamson NA, Boore DM, Campbell KW, Delavaud E, Erdik M, Stafford PJ (2015) Selection of ground motion prediction equations for the global earthquake model. Earthquake Spectra 31(1):19–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Utsu T (1965) A method for determining the value of b in formula log N = a-b M showing the magnitude-frequency relation for earthquakes (with English summary). Geophys Bull Hokkaido Univ 13:99–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Veneziano D, Cornell C A, O'hara T (1984) Historic Method for Seismic Hazard Analysis, Electric Power Research Institute. (Report NP-3438). Palo Alto

  • Wells DL, Coppersmith KJ (1994) New empirical relationship among magnitude, rupture length, rupture width, rupture area and surface displacement. Bull Seismol Soc Am 84:974–1002

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiemer S (2001) A software package to analyze seismicity: ZMAP. Seismol Res Lett 72(3):373–382

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yelles Chaouche A, Deramchi A, Ferkoul A, Aoulaiche K (2002) Earthquakes in Algeria from 1992 to 2001. CRAAG report, Algiers, Algeria (in French)

Download references

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to two anonymous reviewers and the associate editor Andrzej Kijko for their constructive comments that improved an earlier version of our manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre de Recherche en Astronomie, Astrophysique et Géophysique, CRAAG, BP. 63, Bouzaréah, Algiers, Algeria

    Fouzi Bellalem, Abdelhak Talbi, Hamou Djellit, Hayet Ymmel & Mourad Mobarki

Authors
  1. Fouzi Bellalem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Abdelhak Talbi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hamou Djellit
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hayet Ymmel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Mourad Mobarki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fouzi Bellalem.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bellalem, F., Talbi, A., Djellit, H. et al. Seismic hazard assessment in the megacity of Blida (Algeria) and its surrounding regions using parametric-historic procedure. J Seismol 22, 897–908 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10950-018-9740-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10950-018-9740-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation