New seismic source zone model for Portugal and Azores for use in SHARE: methodology and preliminar results

The development of seismogenic source models is one of the first steps in seismic hazard assessment. In seismic hazard terminology, seismic source zones (SSZ) are polygons that delineate areas with homogeneous characteristics of seismicity. The importance of using knowledge on geology, seismicity and tectonics in the definition of source zones has been recognized for a long time. However, the definition of SSZ tends to be subjective and controversial. In the SHARE (Seismic Hazard Harmonization in Europe) FP7 project, seismic hazard will be assessed with a logic tree approach that allows for three types of branches for seismicity models: a) smoothed seismicity, b) SSZ, c) SSZ and faults. In this context, a large-scale zonation model for use in the smoothed seismicity branch, and a new consensus SSZ model for Portugal and Azores have been developed. The new models are being achieved with the participation of regional experts and external experts, according the SSHAC (1997) level-3 methodology.