Ground Motion at the World Heritage Archaeological Site of Monte Albán, Oaxaca, Mexico during Recent Damaging Earthquakes

Research reveals that the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Monte Albán, Mexico, experiences significant ground motion during major earthquakes, with horizontal peak ground acceleration (PGA) exceeding 120 cm/s² potentially causing damage. The study estimates PGA values for past earthquakes, including those in 1999 and 2017, using spectral amplification ratios derived from intermitten strong-motion data collected between 2004 and 2019. Notably, the 2020 Huatulco earthquake had similar or higher PGV and PGD values but caused no reported damage, suggesting post-2017 conservation efforts may have mitigated vulnerability. The findings indicate that such strong ground motion could occur with a return period of approximately 20 years, while 1 g acceleration might exceed once every 1000 years, providing critical insights for seismic risk assessment and preservation strategies.

Singh, S. K., Iglesias Mendoza, A., Arroyo, D., Ordaz, M., Alcántara, L., & Almora, D. (2025). Ground Motion at the World Heritage Archaeological Site of Monte Albán, Oaxaca, Mexico during Recent Damaging Earthquakes. Geofísica Internacional, 65(1), 1847–1861. https://doi.org/10.22201/igeof.2954436xe.2026.65.1.1895