The goal of the Basin and Range Province Seismic Hazards Summit is to evaluate approaches and techniques or seismic hazard characterization in extensional regions. This meeting is bringing together ten state surveys and state emergency management agencies, the USGS, FEMA, and some of the best minds in contemporary science and engineering geology to discuss seismic hazard analysis in the Basin and Range Province. In addition, fundamental users of seismic hazard analyses will discuss the uses and needs of this information. A comprehensive view of the state-of-practice will be available with which to judge the most reasonable and logical approaches for seismic hazard analysis within the province, and outstanding problems. Quaternary fault and seismicity maps from each of the ten participating states will be available to use as a backdrop for neotectonic and seismic hazard discussions.

The format of the summit will be a sequence of summary talks given on specific topics relevant to seismic hazard information usage in the Basin and Range province. Follow up will include panel discussions and interactive audience participation. Specific seismic hazard analyses or topics will be presented in a conference long poster session. We encourage a wide participation by all interested scientists, engineers, and emergency managers to help gain as many ideas and viewpoints as possible. A proceedings volume will be produced to capture the presentations and findings to the summit.

Some Topics Relevant to the Seismic Hazard Summit:

Clustered earthquake behavior in time and space Long recurrence intervals for major earthquakes vs short time-frames of probabilistic analysis Distinct basin effects on ground motion Neotectonics of the Basin Range province Estimating values for seismic hazard analysis Use of seismic hazard information in the Basin and Range province Any topics related to seismic hazards analysis in extensional areas are encouraged

The Basin and Range province of North America is a land of contrasts and challenges for seismic hazard analysis and application. Seismogenic faults within the province are generally intraplate in character, with earthquake recurrence intervals on the order of thousands to hundreds of thousands of years. This may make the hazard sound remote, but there are literally thousands of potentially active faults, many of which are not detected or well represented at the surface. Further, earthquakes along many, if not all, of these faults seem to cluster in time and space, complicating the analysis of earthquake occurrence. Earthquake magnitudes for these structures are generally estimated to be from magnitude 6 to 8. The province's population setting that is at risk from these potential earthquakes can be described as both rural and urban, with most of the population living in cities.


Western States Seismic Policy Council's
Basin and Range Province Seismic Hazards Summit
May 13-15, 1997
Silver Legacy Hotel Reno, Nevada
Rooms can be reserved directly at $57 (inc. taxes) - 1-800-687-7733

More Information will be posted here when it is available.

Updated: December 27, 1996