Scaling of peak ground acceleration and peak ground velocity recorded in the Netherlands

Measured accelerations caused by induced and tectonic events in the Netherlands have been made available since 1997. Measured mean horizontal peak ground accelerations reach values of up to 2.2 m/s2 for an induced event of magnitude 3.4 at a hypocentral distance of 2.5 km and with a dominant frequency of 10 Hz. Measured mean peak horizontal ground velocities reach values of up to 4.5 cm/s for a tectonic event of magnitude 3.9 at a hypocentral distance of 4.4 km. These high values are predicted by existing empirical relations for the scaling of peak ground acceleration and peak ground velocity. The best fit for the observations of magnitudes larger than 3.0, taking into account that underestimates should be avoided, is given by Campbell (1997). For the total magnitude range, a new scaling relation for the Netherlands was estimated, based on the attenuation relation determined to calculate local magnitudes for induced events. These relations will be used in updates of seismic hazard studies for the Netherlands.