Seismic hazard assessment for Cyprus

In the present study, probabilistic seismic hazard assessment was conducted for Cyprus based on several new results: a new comprehensive earthquake catalog, seismic source models based on new research, and new attenuation relationships. Peak ground acceleration distributions obtained for a return period of 475 years for rock conditions indicate high hazard along the southern coastline of Cyprus, where the expected ground motion is between 0.3 and 0.4 g. The rest of the island is characterized by values representing less severe shaking. Results of this study strongly indicate the inadequacy of the Turkish Earthquake Code that is being used in the northern part of the island and the Eurocode 8 that is in effect in the southern part of the island to approximate the uniform hazard spectra developed for the high hazard and moderate hazard regions of the island.