Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Historical seismicity in Mexico during 1568–1837: intensity evaluation and data reliability

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Natural Hazards Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Iso-intensity contour maps were calculated on the basis of the intensity data derived from historical information about strongest earthquakes in Mexico. Intensity data contain a great deal of information that can be used to constrain the essential characteristics of the seismic source. In particular, both the seismological theory and its practice suggest that the orientation of the source of significant earthquakes is reflected in the elongation of the associated damage pattern. The present paper uses information about historical seismicity in Mexico from 1568 to 1837 to point out the sites, where the strongest damages took place. After information selection, maps of iso-intensities were built to determine epicentres. This information was interpreted, and damages and major risk zones were mapped. The systematic application of this method to all the M > 5.5 earthquakes that occurred in Mexico in the past five centuries produced encouraging results about the determination of the seismic source parameters that compare well with existing instrumental, geological, and geodynamic evidence.

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
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aubouin J, Stephan JF, Roump J, Renard V (1982) The Middle America Trench as an example of a subduction zone. Tectonophysics 86:113–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bevis C, Isacks L (1984) Hypocentral trend surface analysis: probing the geometry of Benioff zones. J Geophys Res 89:6153–6170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chiaruttini C, Siro L (1991) Focal mechanism of an earthquake of Baroque age in the “Regno delle Due Sicile” (southern Italy), in Investigation of historical Earthquakes in Europe. Stucchi M, Postpischl D, Slejko D (eds.), Tectonophysics 193:195–203

  • De Rubeis V, Gasparini C, Maramai A, Murru M, Tertulliani A (1992) The uncertainty and ambiguity of isoseisnal maps. Earthquake Eng Struct Dyn 21:509–523

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dewey JW, Suarez G (1991) Seismotectonics of middle America, the geology of North America decade map. Neotect North Am Seism Sect 1:309–321

    Google Scholar 

  • Figueroa J (1970) Catalogo de sismos ocurridos en la Republica Mexicana. Revista del Instituto de Ingenieria 272:1–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Figueroa J (1971) Sismicidad en la cuenca del Valle de Mexico. Revista del Instituto de Ingenieria 289:237–248

    Google Scholar 

  • Figueroa J (1973) Sismicidad en Chiapas. Revista del Instituto de Ingenieria 316:1–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Figueroa J (1974) Sismicidad en Puebla, Macrosismo del 28 de Agosto de 1973. Revista del Instituto de Ingenieria 343:1–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Figueroa J (1975) Sismicidad en Colima. Revista del Instituto de Ingenieria 332:1–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Figueroa J (1982) Sismicidad en Jalisco. Revista del Instituto de Ingenieria 459:1–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Garcia-Acosta V, Suarez G (1999) Los sismos en la Historia de México. Fondo de Cultura Economica

  • Gasparini F, Bernardini F, Velensise G, Boschi E (1999) Defining seismogenic sources from historical earthquake felt reports. Bull Seism Soc Am 89:94–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Jimenez Z, Ponce L (1978) Focal mechanism of six large earthquakes in northern Oaxaca, Mexico, for the period 1928–1973. Geofisica Int 17:379–386

    Google Scholar 

  • Klitgord KD, Mammerickx J (1982) Northern East Pacific Rise; Magnetic anomaly and bathymetric framework. J Geophy Res 87:6725–6750

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lomnitz C (1974) Global tectonics and earthquake risk. Elsevier, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Malagon A (1989) Calibracion y estimacion de magnitudes para sismos historicos de Mexico. Bachelor thesis, Facultad de. Ingenieria, UNAM

  • Minster JB, Jordan TH (1979) Present-day plate motions. J Geophy Res 83:5331–5354

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Molnar P, Sykes LR (1969) Tectonics of the Caribbean and Middle American from focal mechanisms and seismicity. Geol Soc Am Bull 80:1639–1684

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nishenko SP, Buland R (1987) A generic recurrence interval distribution for earthquake forecasting. Bull Seismol Soc Am 77:1382–1399

    Google Scholar 

  • Nishenko SP, Singh SK (1987) Conditional probabilities for the recurrence of large and great interplate earthquakes along the Mexican subduction zone. Bull Seismol Soc Am 77:2095–2114

    Google Scholar 

  • Nuñez-Cornu F, Ponce L (1989) Zonas Sismicas de Oaxaca, Mexico: Sismos Maximos y Tiempos de Recurrencia para el periodo 1542–1988. Geofisica Intrnacional 28–4:587–641

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohta Y, Satoh K (1980) Analysis on seismic intensity and earthquake disaster in the Caldiran earthquake. In: Ohta Y (ed) Engineering seismological studies on the 24 November 1976 Caldiran earthquake in Turkey. Dept Arch Eng Hokkaido Univ, Sapporo, pp 89–117

    Google Scholar 

  • Orozco y Berra J (1887–1888) Seismologia. Efemerides sismicas mexicanas. Memorias Sociedad Cientifica “Antonio Alzate”. Mexico 1:303–537

    Google Scholar 

  • Protherro WA, Reid ID (1982) Microearthquakes on the East Pacific rise at 21° N and the Rivera fracture zone. J Geophy Res 87:8509–8518

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reiter L (1991) Earthquake hazard analysis. Columbia U. Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Shebalin NV (1973) Macroseismic data as information on source parameters of large earthquakes. Phys Earth Planet Interior 6:316–323

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh SK, Astiz L, Havskov J (1981) Seismic gaps and recurrence periods of large earthquakes along the Mexican subduction zone; A reexamination. Bull Seism Soc Am 71:827–843

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh SK, Rodriguez M, Espindola JM (1984) A catalogue of shallow earthquakes of Mexico from 1900–1981. Bull Seism Soc Am 74:267–279

    Google Scholar 

  • Sirovich L (1996) A simple algorithm for tracing synthetic isoseismals. Bull Seism Soc Am 86:1019–1027

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart GS, Chael EP, McNally KC (1981) The 1978 November 29, Oaxaca, Mexico, earthquake; a large simple event. J Geophy Res 86:5053–5060

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suarez G, Garcia-Acosta V, Gaulon R (1994) Active crustal deformation in the Jalisco block for a great historical earthquake in the 16th century. Tectonophysics 234:117–127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wells Dl, Coppersmith KJ (1994) New empirical relationships among magnitude, rupture length, rupture with, rupture area, and surface displacement. Bull Seism Soc Am 84:974–1002

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia (CONACyT) project number: I37890-T.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. APEC, México, DF, 04030, Mexico

    Marco-Antonio Torres-Vera

Authors
  1. Marco-Antonio Torres-Vera
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marco-Antonio Torres-Vera.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Torres-Vera, MA. Historical seismicity in Mexico during 1568–1837: intensity evaluation and data reliability. Nat Hazards 54, 863–878 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-010-9510-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-010-9510-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation