Global Seismic Amplification Raster (GMSR-SA) v1.0

Raster File

GMSR_Seismic_Amplification_0_100.tif

Public Dataset URL

https://secure.engineeringdirector.com/public/map/GMSR_Seismic_Amplification_0_100

Product Overview

The Global Seismic Amplification Raster (GMSR-SA) is a global geospatial dataset representing relative susceptibility to amplification of seismic ground motions resulting from local geological, geomorphic, and seismic hazard conditions.

Seismic amplification occurs when local site characteristics modify incoming seismic waves, producing ground motions that may exceed those expected from regional seismic hazard alone. Amplification effects are commonly associated with unconsolidated sediments, amplification-prone lithologies, steep terrain, and regions of elevated seismic hazard.

The dataset identifies landscapes exhibiting environmental and geological conditions favorable for amplification of seismic shaking and provides a continuous susceptibility score ranging from 0–100.

The product serves as a major component within the Global Ground Movement Susceptibility Raster (GMSR) framework.

Applications include:

• Infrastructure planning
• Seismic risk screening
• Transportation corridor assessment
• Pipeline route evaluation
• Utility planning
• Geohazard assessment
• Emergency management planning
• Environmental risk analysis
• Asset management
• Regional resilience planning

Product Family

The Global Seismic Amplification Raster (GMSR-SA) is one of five component products comprising the Global Ground Movement Susceptibility Raster (GMSR) framework.

Component products include:

• Landslide Susceptibility
• Soil Creep Potential
• Shrink–Swell Potential
• Subsidence Susceptibility
• Seismic Amplification

These component rasters may be used independently or within the integrated GMSR framework.

Product Status

Dataset Information

Raster Statistics

Score Interpretation

Scores represent relative susceptibility to amplification of seismic ground motions and should not be interpreted as earthquake probability, peak ground acceleration, or engineering design parameters.

Visualization Standard

The official GMSR product family visualization standard is used.

The GMSR product family utilizes a standardized 0–100 visualization scale to ensure consistent interpretation across all component and composite products.

Individual raster datasets may not occupy the full 0–100 range; however, the visualization standard remains fixed to support cross-product comparison and portfolio-level analysis.

Display legends are standardized across the GMSR product family and may extend beyond the observed minimum and maximum raster values. Actual raster statistics are reported within the Dataset Information and Raster Statistics sections.

Methodology Summary

The Global Seismic Amplification Raster evaluates susceptibility to localized amplification of seismic ground motion using globally consistent datasets representing seismic hazard, lithology, and terrain characteristics.

The model integrates:

• Regional seismic hazard intensity
• Amplification-prone lithologies
• Terrain-related amplification effects

Input datasets are normalized and combined through a weighted susceptibility framework to generate a globally standardized seismic amplification index.

The resulting raster provides relative amplification susceptibility rather than direct measurements of earthquake shaking intensity.

Input Variables

GEM Global Seismic Hazard Model

Represents regional seismic hazard using Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA).

Areas exhibiting elevated seismic hazard receive higher amplification susceptibility scores.

Model Weight: 50%

GLiM Lithology Constraint

Derived from the Global Lithological Map (GLiM).

Lithologies associated with unconsolidated materials, sedimentary deposits, and amplification-prone geologic conditions receive elevated susceptibility values.

Model Weight: 30%

GEBCO Local Relief Score

Derived from GEBCO global elevation and bathymetry datasets.

Terrain relief is used as a proxy for topographic amplification effects and localized site response variability.

Model Weight: 20%

Relationship to GMSR

The Seismic Amplification Raster serves as a major component of the Global Ground Movement Susceptibility Raster (GMSR).

Product Lineage

This dataset is a component product within the Global Ground Movement Susceptibility Raster (GMSR) framework and contributes 20% of the final composite GMSR score.

GMSR Weighting

Validation

Validation Approach

Validation was performed through comparison with globally recognized regions of elevated seismic hazard, tectonic activity, amplification-prone geology, and documented seismic site-response environments.

High-scoring regions were compared against major plate boundaries, active mountain belts, sedimentary basins, and historically active seismic regions.

Validation Summary

The raster demonstrates strong agreement with globally recognized seismic amplification environments including:

• Alaska and the Aleutian Arc
• Western North America
• Central America
• Andes Mountains
• Mediterranean Basin
• Anatolian Region (Turkey)
• Himalayan Arc
• Western China
• Japan
• Indonesia
• New Zealand

These regions correspond to major tectonic plate boundaries and geologic settings commonly associated with elevated seismic amplification susceptibility.

Validation was conducted at continental and global scales and is intended to support screening-level geospatial analysis rather than site-specific seismic design investigations.

Spatial Distribution Characteristics

The Global Seismic Amplification Raster exhibits broad global coverage relative to some other GMSR component products.

Unlike hazards that are concentrated within specific environmental settings, seismic amplification susceptibility is influenced by combinations of regional seismic hazard, lithology, and terrain characteristics that occur across much of the Earth's land surface.

Elevated susceptibility values are concentrated within tectonically active regions, sedimentary basins, amplification-prone lithologies, and areas exhibiting significant local relief.

This distribution reflects the global nature of seismic site-response processes and should not be interpreted as a direct representation of earthquake occurrence frequency or seismic hazard magnitude.

Source Datasets

• GEM Global Seismic Hazard Model

• Global Lithological Map (GLiM)

• GEBCO Global Bathymetry and Elevation

Related Products

Primary GMSR Products

• GMSR v1 Ground Movement Susceptibility (0–100)

• GMSR v1 Ground Movement Susceptibility Class 1–7

GMSR Component Products

• Landslide Susceptibility

• Soil Creep Potential

• Shrink–Swell Potential

• Subsidence Susceptibility

• Seismic Amplification

Limitations

• Intended for screening and planning purposes.
• Not a substitute for site-specific seismic investigations.
• Does not predict earthquake occurrence.
• Does not estimate earthquake magnitude.
• Does not replace engineering site-response analysis.
• Does not incorporate local geotechnical investigations.
• Does not represent real-time seismic conditions.
• Does not constitute a seismic design standard.

Revision History

Source Citations

GEM

Global Earthquake Model Foundation.

Global Seismic Hazard Model.

Global Earthquake Model (GEM).

GLiM

Hartmann, J., & Moosdorf, N. (2012).

The new global lithological map database GLiM: A representation of rock properties at the Earth surface.

Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems.

GEBCO

GEBCO Compilation Group.

The General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO).

International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC).

Attribution

Joseph Mazzella

Nicole Mazzella

AtmosphericIQ LLC

Engineering Director, Inc.

Dataset Citation

Mazzella, J., Mazzella, N. (2026).

Global Seismic Amplification Raster (GMSR-SA) v1.0.

AtmosphericIQ LLC / Engineering Director, Inc.

Version Information