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On the earthquakes in the Northern Baltic Shield in the spring of 1626

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Abstract

This study starts from the earthquakes of May 14, 1626 and June 22, 1626 as given in existing parametric catalogs for the Baltic (Fennoscandian) Shield. The first shock is located in North-western Russia, the second in Finland that belonged to Sweden at that time. A search for previously unknown Russian sources of information is performed, and secondary Swedish sources are replaced by primary ones. The contemporary sources are two Russian chronicles and two Swedish manuscripts. In addition, a later reminiscence is used. The contents of the sources are critically analyzed and augmented with background information. A new interpretation of one Swedish manuscript is presented. The earthquake dates are analyzed. A credible source of errors follows from the different calendars used. Macroseismic intensity assessment is possible for two places. A new solution of one earthquake felt in both territories is proposed. The available data are too fragmentary to prove it beyond doubt, but the scenario is feasible in many ways. Tentative earthquake parameters are calculated. Epicentral intensity is assessed at 6–7 (EMS), magnitude is estimated at 4.7–5.7. The epicenter is located in Russia close to the border between the two territories.

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Notes

  1. Texts in original languages can be found in the Appendix.

  2. PSRL–Polnoye sobraniye russkikh letopisey (Complete Collection of Russian Chronicles).

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Acknowledgments

This research was partly supported by RFBR grants 08-05-00598 and 10-05-00126. Travel grants based on contractual bilateral cooperation between the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Finland are gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of the Physics of the Earth, Russian Academy of Sciences, B. Gruzinskaya 10, Moscow, 123995, Russia

    R. E. Tatevossian & T. N. Tatevossian

  2. Institute of Seismology, Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, POB 68, 00014, Helsinki, Finland

    P. Mäntyniemi

Authors
  1. R. E. Tatevossian
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  2. P. Mäntyniemi
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  3. T. N. Tatevossian
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Correspondence to R. E. Tatevossian.

Appendix 1: The sources in the original languages

Appendix 1: The sources in the original languages

Yakovleva ( 1958 ):

B лeтo 7134-гo гoдy мaия в 4 дeнь тpяcлacя зeмля вo вceм Пoмopии, нa Coлoвкax и в Уcть-Кoлe и нa Двинe пo Cийcкoй мoнacтыpь.

Dvinskiy Letopisets (PSRL, v. 33, p. 172):

1627 г. O cтpaшнoм тpyce. Пpи ceм вoeвoдe был нa Двинe cтpaшнoй тpyc. B 135 гoдy мaия 20 дeнь в нeдeлю Bcex cвятыx, к пoнeдeльникy в 5 чacy нoчи гpex paди нaшиx гнeвoм бoжиим пoтpяcecя зeмля, и мнoзи oт людeй иcтpяceниe зeмли видeшa, a иниии людиe в тo вpeмя cпaли. И oт тoгo тpyca людeй бoг пoмилoвaл.

Rhyme chronicle of Finland. Messenius J (2004) Suomen riimikronikka (Rhyme Chronicle of Finland). Edited and translated into Finnish by H. Lönnroth and M. Linna. Publication no. 913 of Finnish Literature Society SKS, Helsinki (in Swedish):

Här näst will iagh wnderligh tingh

Skrifua, Som ähr then iordbäfningh,

hon gonom hela finland gick,

En wdd ellenast skada fick

J Soknen ijo, och then wanck,

Så han hijsligen neder sanck,

whr diupa wapnet [watnet] synes åp

Ey mehr än the höga träs tåp,

Efter iordbäfningh aldrigh gått

Kommer, Så ähr och om then spåt:

J Samma Sokn åhret thär näst,

En dagh regnar thär blod mäst,

Som war then nyttonde april,

Ey häller gått thet båda will,

Gudh ware oss nådigh, och hull,

För Sin Sons Jesu Christi Skull!

Scondia illustrata. Messenius J (1988) Suomen, Liivinmaan ja Kuurinmaan vaiheita sekä tuntemattoman tekijän Suomen kronikka (Episodes of life in Finland, Livonia and Kurland and the Chronicle of Finland by an unkown author). Translated from Latin by M. Linna, J. Lagerstedt and E. Palmén, Finnish Literature Society SKS, Helsinki (in Finnish):

[1626] Kesäkuun 13. päivän valjetessa Suomea vavahdutti kauhea maanjäristys. Sen johdosta Iin pitäjässä maa aleni varsin huomattavalla alueella, mikä teki mahdolliseksi järven syntymisen juuri tälle paikalle.

Johannes Andreae Cajanus: Cajanus JA (1663) Anno 1663 d. I Febr. …hölts den aldraförsta Visitation uti Paldamo … (Description of the municipality of Paltamo), Tidningar utgifne af ett Sällskap i Åbo 1777 no. 16-18 (in Swedish):

Denne kyrckan (…); men i den stora jordbäfningen, som öfwer största delen af Österbotn skedde 1626, på Eskilli dag, fick hon en stor skada, at östra gafwelen blef alldeles lutande; och ifrån den tiden hafwa Bönderna inte welat kosta på kyrckan, hwarföre kyckan nu synes falla omkull.

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Tatevossian, R.E., Mäntyniemi, P. & Tatevossian, T.N. On the earthquakes in the Northern Baltic Shield in the spring of 1626. Nat Hazards 57, 133–150 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-010-9516-7

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