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Frequency and Magnitude of Events

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Encyclopedia of Natural Hazards

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series ((EESS))

Definitions

Frequency. The frequency of a natural hazard event is the number of times it occurs within a specified time interval.

Magnitude. The magnitude of a natural hazard event is related to the energy released by the event. It is distinguished from intensity which is related to the effects at a specific location or area.

Introduction

The magnitude of a natural hazard event varies in its frequency of occurrence over time in an inverse power relationship. The relationship is often depicted as log-normal (Figure 1) where the magnitude increases linearly (e.g., 1, 2, 3, …) whereas the frequency decreases as an inverse power function (e.g., 1/3, 1/9, 1/81) with increasing magnitude (Keller et al., 2008, p. 23). In other words, the larger and the more energetic the event, the rarer it is in time.

Frequency and Magnitude of Events, Figure 1
figure 621 figure 621

A log-normal frequency plot showing variation between maximum instantaneous stream discharge and flow recurrence in years for the Skagit River at...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pacific Division, Geological Survey of Canada, 15th floor, 605 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Dr. Lionel E. Jackson Jr.

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  1. Dr. Lionel E. Jackson Jr.
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Correspondence to Lionel E. Jackson Jr. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada

    Peter T. Bobrowsky

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Jackson, L.E. (2013). Frequency and Magnitude of Events. In: Bobrowsky, P.T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Natural Hazards. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-4399-4_147

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