Detailed Macroseismic Survey and Rational Approach to Seismic Intensity Assessment within the Territory of a Large City: Case Study of the Consequences of the September 21, 2020 Bystraya Earthquake in Irkutsk

Abstract

The article discusses the advisability of conducting detailed macroseismic surveys within large cities and urban agglomerations. A retrospective analysis of information about earthquakes that occurred in the past decades and were felt in Irkutsk with an intensity of I = V or higher revealed the problem of preserving and availability of primary data on earthquake effects. Processing of the macroseismic data collected using internet-based questionnaires for the Irkutsk area after the September 21, 2020 Bystraya earthquake was carried out. The usage of online questionnaires has demonstrated high efficiency and information content, and also opened up certain possibilities such as improving the method with respect to the particular conditions of East Siberia. A large number of responses from earthquake eyewitnesses makes it possible to assess the shaking intensity separately in every administrative unit of Irkutsk, which in turn contributes to an increase in the detail of documenting the earthquake macroseismic field. The results allow us to consider assessment of the shaking intensity within certain parts of Irkutsk city as more rational versus assessment for the entire territory of the city.