The Digital Accelerograph Network in the Caucasus

Abstract

The paper describes the permanent digital accelerograph network in the Caucasus area operated by the National Survey for Seismic Protection of the Republic of Armenia, the Georgian Academy of Sciences and the Swiss Seismological Service and granted by the Swiss Disaster Relief. The network, which became operational in 1990 and since then gradually extended, consists today of 12 digital free-field stations as well as 6 digital strong-motion instruments for aftershock studies and is complemented with 16 analogue strongmotion stations and 2 structure-related arrays. The acceleration time histories recorded by this network and the routine operation and data processing procedures are outlined. The results on empirical scaling of response spectra and peak acceleration of earthquake indu.;ed ground motion in the Caucasus and adjacent area are summarised. These models provide the basis for reliable empirical estimates of ground motion parameters and seismic hazard assessment in the Caucasus.