Earthquake on May 15/28, 1903, in Eastern Anatolia (Turkey) based on Information in Russian Empire Periodicals

Abstract

The earthquake on May 15/28, 1903, is not a newly discovered unknown seismic event. Analysis of its information background highlighted that original macroseismic evidences from regional Russian press contemporary to the earthquake were not used. Meanwhile interpretation of early-instrumental seismic records does not provide accurate location of the epicenter, though the magnitude can be estimated rather precisely. In this study, original evidence on macroseismic effects of May 15/28, 1903, is assembled, based on which the location of the epicenter is estimated and the accuracy thereof is evaluated. The magnitude is assumed from earlier published studies and is not re-evaluated in this paper. Finally, according to our study, the epicenter is shifted in NW direction by 15 km that relative to previous solutions; accuracy of location ca. 8 km. This, in general, small change in epicenter location shows the activity of SE–NW oriented structures.