Site response study in Abruzzo (Central Italy): underground array versus surface stations

In this site response study we examined local earthquakes recorded at surface stations of a local seismic network and at a temporary underground seismic array installed in a tunnel underneath the Gran Sasso Massif in Abruzzo (central Italy). This allowed us to compare the seismic site response beneath the mountain and on the surface in similar geological environment (soft rock sites). We applied spectral ratios method on different segments of the seismograms and used different reference spectra in the 1–20 Hz frequency band. We found little or no amplification effects at most of the surface stations whereas site transfer functions evaluated with respect to underground sites show an amplification factor up to 6 in the 1–8 Hz frequency range. Coda spectral ratios estimated at soft rock sites are confirmed as good estimates of shear wave transfer function.     

Broadband frequency-dependent amplification of seismic waves across Bucharest, Romania

The determination of seismic amplitude amplification is a fundamental contribution to seismic hazard assessment. While often only high-frequency amplitude variations (>1 Hz) are taken into account, we analyse broadband waveforms from 0.14 to 8.6 Hz using a temporary network of 32 stations in and around the earthquake-prone city of Bucharest. Spectral amplitudes are calculated with an adaptive multiple-taper approach. Across our network (aperture 25 km × 25 km), we find a systematic northwest/southeast-oriented structural influence on teleseismic P-wave amplitudes from 0.14 to 0.86 Hz that can be explained by constructive interference in the dipping Cenozoic sedimentary layers. For higher frequencies (1.4–8.75 Hz), more local site effects prevail and can be correlated partly among neighbouring stations. The transition between systematic and localised amplitude variations occurs at about 1 Hz.     

祁连山主动源观测台站场地响应分析

场地响应是精确测定震源参数和稳健估计出高精度地壳介质衰减变化的关键影响因素之一,采用H/V尾波谱比法,对祁连山主动源观测台网中40个短周期观测台站的场地响应进行了分析。结果表明,祁连山主动源观测台网中40个短周期观测台站均存在不同程度的放大（衰减）作用,根据40个台站观测波形的尾波场地响应曲线特征,可将其分为平坦类、放大类、高频衰减类,在1~20 Hz频段内部分台站场地响应曲线呈现平坦,场地响应值为1~2倍;而大部分台站在不同频段有明显放大（衰减）作用,场地响应值为0.3~9倍。台站台基岩性可能是决定场地响应曲线特征和大小的主要因素,且与台基介质密度具有反相关性。     

Evidence for fault-related directionality and localized site effects from strong motion recordings of the 2003 Boumerdes (Algeria) earthquake: Consequences on damage distribution and the Algerian seismic code

The Algiers–Boumerdes region has been struck by a destructive magnitude 6.8 (M_w) earthquake on May 21, 2003. The study presented in this paper is based on main shock strong motions from 13 stations of the Algerian accelerograph network. A maximum 0.58g peak ground acceleration (PGA) has been recorded at 20 km from the epicenter, only about 150 m away from a PGA of 0.34g, with both a central frequency around 5 Hz, explained by a strong very localized site effect, confirmed by receiver function technique results showing peaks at 5 Hz with amplitudes changing by a factor of 2. Soil amplifications are also evidenced at stations located in the quaternary Mitidja basin, explaining the higher PGA values recorded at these stations than at stations located on firm soil at similar distances from the epicenter. A fault-related directionality effect observed on the strong motion records and confirmed by the study of the seismic movement anisotropy, in agreement with the N65 fault plan direction, explains the SW–NE orientation of the main damage zone. In the near field, strong motions present a high-frequency content starting at 3 Hz with a central frequency around 8 Hz, while in the far field their central frequency is around 3 Hz, explaining the high level of damage in the 3- to 4-story buildings in the epicentral zone. The design spectra overestimate the recorded mean response spectra, and its high corner frequency is less than the recorded one, leading to a re-examination of the seismic design code that should definitively integrate site-related coefficient, to account for the up to now neglected site amplification, as well as a re-modeling of the actual design spectra. Finally, both the proposed Algerian attenuation law and the worldwide laws usually used in Algeria underestimate the recorded accelerations of the 6.8 (M_w) Boumerdes earthquake, clearly showing that it is not possible to extrapolate the proposed Algerian law to major earthquakes.     

Characterization of regional and local scattering effects from small-aperture seismic array recordings

In 1998, four small-aperture arrays separated by 20 km have been deployed in the southern French Alps in order to record the natural seismicity during two consecutive months. One of the main objectives of this experiment was to characterize the heterogeneities that influence the wavefield propagation, by analysis of the coda characteristics recorded by each of the seismic arrays.The time-azimuth-velocity characteristics of the coda phases have been obtained using a high-resolution wavenumber decomposition method.A statistical analysis, using the coda characteristics of the whole data set (20 regional earthquakes) recorded by the four arrays has been performed and lead to the calculation of the density of scattered energy within the medium. Three regional heterogeneous areas (> 10 km) have been characterized, and are located in the N–NE, W and S directions from the four arrays. Scattered energy is also located at local distances (< 10 km) from the four arrays.The comparison of the waveforms recorded (i) with one of the array, for different groups of earthquakes, and (ii) with the four arrays, for one group of earthquakes, show that the geometrical configuration of the source–scattering area–recording site system can strongly influence the energetic distributions related to the secondary phases of the seismograms.In particular cases, we experimentally show that the interactions of the direct wavefield with the heterogeneous structures of the medium can be sufficiently energetic to induce secondary scattered phases that dominate the seismic motions recorded at a given site. In such case, these effects should be taken into account for the quantification of the expected ground motion recorded during an earthquake.     

Calculating the Station Corrections to Earthquake Energy Class and the Acoustic Impedance for Kamchatka Stations

This paper describes a method for calculating the station corrections to earthquake energy class and the acoustic impedance based on records of earthquake codas in the 0.8–1.8 Hz frequency band. The calculation is based on measurements of the relative coda level at two stations, with one of the two being used as the reference. The data were recorded by digital seismometers: CMG-3TB (GURALP), CMG-5TD (GURALP), CMG-6TD (GURALP), and GMS-AC-73i HHV (GeoSIG). We present estimates of class corrections for the Kamchatka network of seismic stations.     

Site amplification effect of coda waves in West Tunnan Experimental Site

The site effect of coda waves for four types of basement under 6 stations was studied by using the local earthquakes from digital seismograph network of West Yunnan Experimental Site. Results from the band 0.75 to 24 Hz showed that the site effect was abviously interrelated with not only the frequency but also the site condition of the station. For those stations which sited on the hard-rock, such as Jianchuan (limestone), Shuanglang (limestone), Qiaohou (sandstone) and Eryuan (metamorghic rock), the site amplification as a function of frequency was similar in shape and the changes in amplification were flat. A typical behavior of sediment was measured at Qina station. The site amplification remained high at low frequency, but turned to a low level as frequency increased. However, in contrast to Qina, the variations of site amplification at Yangbi station were quite different. Such different behavior between the two sites could be caused by the difference in sediment thickness under valley basins. It could be seen that the site amplification pattern of horizontal motion approached approximately to the vertical despite of some differences. The Fourier spectra of small earthquakes also showed the character of site. It can be expected that the site response has an important effect on the shape of the spectra and that the size of the magnitude is not likely responsible for the spectra recorded at the same site. The Chinese version of this paper appeared in the Chinese edition ofActa Seismologica Sinica,15, Supp., 1993.     

Regional features of coda attenuation of aftershocks of Wuding, Yunnan earthquake in near field

IntroductionSeismic wave is an important information source to analyze and study seismic source and internal structure of the earth. Studies of wave on different frequency ranges can provide many features of seismic source and internal structure of the earth. In recent years in quantitative study of seismic wave seismologists at home and abroad have developed a wide study field on the coda. Especially seismologists have done a lot of work in coda geneses, mechanism and its attenuation to explo…     

云南武定地震余震近场尾波衰减的区域特征

根据地方震尾波散射理论，利用云南武定MS6.5主震后近场田心和云龙两个流动数字化台站记录的余震序列地震资料，以不同中心频率（1.5～20Ｈｚ）取样分频研究了近场尾波振幅衰减率（f ）的空间分布特征．结果表明，两个台站给出的尾波振幅衰减率（f ）存在明显的小区域范围非均匀性变化．位于主发震断层两侧的云龙台（东侧）和田心台（西侧）测得的尾波振幅衰减率（f ）值，当 f ＜6.0Ｈｚ时基本一致．相应的Qc（f ）值为66～120的低值；但在高频范围（f 6.0Ｈｚ），由于穿过主断层的近场尾波遭到断层破碎带强烈的吸收，因而云龙台测得的尾波振幅衰减率（f ）值，比不穿过主断层的田心台给出的（f ）降低30％，并讨论了产生近场尾波振幅衰减空间分布差异的原因．本文的研究结果还表明，波源因子A0（f）不仅与震源强度相关，也与频率犳相关，用1.5～20Ｈｚ求出的Ｓ波平均自由程犔在主断层东侧为30ｋｍ、西侧为40ｋｍ ，由此证实了地震波穿过主断层破碎带时有更强的散射．      

Separation of Source, Propagation and Site Effects from S Waves¶of Local Earthquakes in Bursa Region, Northwestern Turkey

—?We have used micro-earthquake recordings (M= 1.8–4.1) of local events in the distance range of 5–60?km in order to quantify the attenuation and site effects in the vicinity of the Bursa city, Marmara region, Turkey. The data set consists of 120 three-component recorded accelograms from 69 earthquakes, recorded at six stations. Each station is deployed on different geologic units, such as massive limestone, slope deposit and Quaternary young sediments, in the framework of the Marmara Poly-Project.¶In this study a nonparametric inversion method was applied to acceleration records from the Bursa region to estimate source, site and path effects using a two-step inversion. At the first step, we determined attenuation functions by analyzing the distance dependence of the spectral amplitudes and retrieved values of Q _s (f) = 46.59f ^0.67. At the second step, the corrected S-waves spectral records for the attenuation function, including the geometrical spreading effect, were inverted to separate source and site response for 21 different frequencies selected between 0.5 and ～25?Hz. The near-surface attenuation, κ value, was also estimated by using the model proposed by Anderson and Hough (1984) at each site. We observed that κ₀ is smaller for stations located on rock site (I?dιr, SIGD, κ₀～0.004) compared to the one that is located on Neogene sediment (Çukurca, SCKR, κ₀～0.018).¶Site amplifications from inversion showed that the station located within the Bursa basin, Çukurca (SCKR), is the most important site with about 4.0 amplification value at 1.8?Hz. Demirta? (SDEM) amplifies the spectral amplitudes about 3.0 times at 2.0?Hz, SHMK about 3.5 times between 2.5 and 3.5?Hz and SHMT nearly reaching 3.5 times between 1.5 and 4.0?Hz. However, stations located on the Uluda? Mountain Massif (SKAY and SIGD), which correspond to a deep limestone geological unit, have the smallest amplification, that values between 0.6 and 1.4.     

Estimation of topographical effects at Narni ridge (Central Italy): comparisons between experimental results and numerical modelling

In the present work the seismic site response of Narni ridge (Central Italy) is evaluated by comparing experimental results and numerical simulations. The inhabited village of Narni is located in central Apennines at the top of a steep massive limestone ridge. From March to September 2009 the site was instrumented with 10 weak-motion stations, 3 of which located at the base of the ridge and 7 at the top. The velocimetric network recorded 642 events of M_L up to 5.3 and hypocentral distance up to about 100 km. The great amount of data are related to the April 2009 L’Aquila sequence. The site response was analyzed using both reference (standard spectral ratio, SSR) and non reference spectral techniques (horizontal to vertical spectral ratio, HVSR). Moreover directional analyses were performed in order to evaluate the influence of the ridge orientation with respect to the selected source-site paths. In general the experimental results show amplification factors for frequencies between 4 and 5 Hz for almost all stations installed along the crest. The SSR technique provides amplification factors up to 4.5 in a direction perpendicular to the main elongation of the ridge. The results obtained from the data analyses were used as a target for bidimensional and tridimensional numerical simulations, performed using a hybrid finite-boundary element method and a boundary element method for 2D and 3D modelling, respectively. In general, the results obtained through numerical simulation fit well the experimental data in terms of range of amplified frequencies, but they underestimate by a factor of about 2 the observed amplifications.     

1985年云南禄劝地震余震尾波 Q 值的某些研究

建立在用来解释地方震和区域地震的尾波散射模型的基础上,用云南短周期区域台网12个台站的 VGK 地震仪记录的68个禄劝地震的余震序列尾波观测资料,分六个时间段估算了尾波 Q 值.发现在所观测的频率范围内(0.40——1.65Hz),Q 值与频率有关,估算的 Q 值在80——240之间,频率相关值=0.45.对表示散射强度的波源因子 B(fp)的估算结果多数在10-23——10-24量级,低 Q 值地区表现出激发强度高.值得注意的是禄劝地震前后,离震中区较近的台站所测得的 Q 值发生了明显变化,有的变化达2.0倍以上.Q 值随时间的区域变化,这在地震预报中也许有重要的实际意义.此外,测定了余震震源参数.对震源参数间的定量关系的讨论结果给出:IgE=1.59ML+11.335;E=(2.1010-5M0;在3.0ML5Pa,一个显著的特征是应力降与地震震级不存在明显的线性关系.      

尾波Qc值随时间变化在地震预测中应用的研究

利用云南地区22个区域数字地震台站记录到的,自1999年下半年至2004年下半年的1403条数字地震波形资料,采用Sato单次散射模型,计算了各台站周围50km内的尾波Qc值;并给出了其中14个资料相对较为丰富的台站的尾波Qc值随时间变化结果。依据这14个台的3Hz、10Hz、18Hz频率点的2002年1月1日前后平均Qc值的变化,研究认为在未来几年内,云南地区比较危险的区域可能位于滇中块体的东南边界附近、滇中块体的西南部及其西边界附近。     

Comparison of amplitude decay rates in reflection,refraction, and local earthquake records

Three types of seismic data recorded near Coalinga, California were analyzed to study the behavior of scattered waves: 1) aftershocks of the May 2, 1983 earthquake, recorded on verticalcomponent seismometers deployed by the USGS; 2) regional refraction profiles using large explosive sources recorded on essentially the same arrays above; 3) three common-midpoint (CMP) reflection surveys recorded with vibrator sources over the same area. Records from each data set were bandpassed filtered into 5 Hz wide passbands (over the range of 1–25 Hz), corrected for geometric spreading, and fit with an exponential model of amplitude decay. Decay rates were expressed in terms of inverse codaQ (Q _c ^–1 ).Q _c ^–1 values for earthquake and refraction data are generally comparable and show a slight decrease with increasing frequency. Decay rates for different source types recorded on proximate receivers show similar results, with one notable exception. One set of aftershocks shows an increase ofQ _c ^–1 with frequency.Where the amplitude decay rates of surface and buried sources are similar, the coda decay results are consistent with other studies suggesting the importance of upper crustal scattering in the formation of coda. Differences in the variation ofQ _c ^–1 with frequency can be correlated with differences in geologic structure near the source region, as revealed by CMP-stacked reflection data. A more detailed assessment of effects such as the depth dependence of scattered contributions to the coda and the role of intrinsic attenuation requires precise control of source-receiver field geometry and the study of synthetic seismic data calculated for velocity models developed from CMP reflection data.     

Temporal Variations of Seismic Wave Velocity Associated with 1998 M6.1 Shizukuishi Earthquake

—?We attempt to detect temporal variations of seismic wave velocity before and after 1998 M6.1 Shizukuishi, northeastern Japan, earthquake by using waveform data from explosions and earthquake doublets spanning the period immediately before and after the earthquake. Direct P waves of the second explosion are delayed by ～20 ms at observation stations with epicentral distances less than 15 km. This tendency does not change if the analysis frequency band is changed. Our result suggests that the P-wave velocity decreased by at least 1% in the extremely shallow region of the hanging wall of the M6.1 thrust event after its occurrence. On the other hand, there was the frequency dependence of the coda wave delays for both artificial sources and for natural events. At 5–10 Hz, immediate sharp increases by more than 20 ms in time delays and lower coherency were observed at several stations. We estimated the region in which P-wave velocity might have decreased after the M6.1 earthquake. Maximum depth of the region is 13 km. The region includes the aftershock area of the M6.1 earthquake, but is eccentric to the earthquake in the west. Considering the frequency band analyzed (5–10 Hz), the scale of the spatial inhomogeneity which led to the coda wave delay is several hundreds meters. We investigated candidates for the cause of the direct P-wave and coda wave delay. Observed direct P-wave delay can be partly explained by the stress changes caused by coseismic fault slip. However, the coda wave delay cannot be explained by the stress changes that are limited to the superficial area. Crustal heterogeneity should have changed at coseismic time in the deeper area where aftershocks of the M6.1 earthquake occurred.     

Performance of the Italian strong motion network during the 2009, L��Aquila seismic sequence (central Italy)

On April 6, 2009, the town of L’Aquila in the Abruzzo region (central Italy) was struck by a seismic event at 01:32 (UTC), of magnitude M_W = 6.3. The mainshock was followed by a long period of intense seismic activity and within seven days after the mainshock there were seven events of magnitude M_W ≥ 5 that occurred from April 6 to April 13. This long seismic sequence was characterized by a complex rupture mechanism that involved two major normal faults of the central Apennines: the Paganica and the Gorzano faults. The strong-motions of the mainshock were recorded by 64 stations of the Italian Strong-motion Network (RAN) operated by the National Civil Protection Department (DPC). Six stations of a local strong-motion array were working in NW L’Aquila suburb area. One of them, located at about 6 km from the Paganica fault surface tip-line, set up in trigger mode, recorded continuously for more than 20 min the mainshock and the aftershocks. Besides the mainshock, the RAN stations recorded in total 78 foreshocks and aftershocks of M_L ≥ 3.5, during the period from January to December 2009. The corresponding waveforms provide the most extensive digital strong ground motion data set ever recorded in Italy. Moreover, the 48 three-component observations of events of magnitude M_W ≥ 5, recorded at a distance less than 15 km from each of the major involved faults, provide a significant increasing of near-field records available for the Italian territory. Six days after the mainshock, the strong-motion dataset, referred to preliminary locations of the events with M_L ≥ 4.0, was made available on the DPC web site () and at the same time it was delivered to the ITACA database (). This dataset has been used by many authors in scientific papers and by engineers, geophysicists and geologists for professional technical works. In this paper, the present-day available strong-motion signals from the L’Aquila sequence and the performance of the Italian strong-motion network in terms of the number and quality of recorded data, the geometry and data transmission system are described. In addition the role of the temporary network that represents an extension of the permanent Italian strong-motion network, supporting the emergency response by civil protection authorities and improving the network coverage has been evaluated.     

Simulating the strong ground motion of the 2022 MS6.8 Luding,Sichuan, China Earthquake

Stochastic finite-fault simulations are effective for simulating ground motions and are widely used in engineering to determine the impacts of ground motion and develop relevant predictive equations. In this study, the source, path, and site amplification coefficient of western Sichuan Province, China, and stochastic finite-fault simulations were used to simulate the acceleration time series, Fourier amplitude spectra, and 5% damped response spectra of 28 strong-motion stations with rupture dist...     

Analysis of infrasonic and seismic events related to the 1998 Vulcanian eruption at Sakurajima

We present results from a detailed analysis of seismic and infrasonic data recorded over a four day period prior to the Vulcanian eruptive event at Sakurajima volcano on May 19, 1998. Nearly one hundred seismic and infrasonic events were recorded on at least one of the nine seismic–infrasonic stations located within 3 km of the crater. Four unique seismic event types are recognized based on the spectral features of seismograms, including weak seismic tremor characterized by a 5–6 Hz peak mode that later shifted to 4–5 Hz. Long-period events are characterized by a short-duration, wide spectral band signal with an emergent, high-frequency onset followed by a wave coda lasting 15–20 s and a fundamental mode of 4.2–4.4 Hz. Values of Q for long-period events range between 10 and 22 suggesting that a gas-rich fluid was involved. Explosive events are the third seismic type, characterized by a narrow spectral band signal with an impulsive high-frequency onset followed by a 20–30 second wave coda and a peak mode of 4.0–4.4 Hz. Volcano-tectonic earthquakes are the fourth seismic type. Prior to May 19, 1998, only the tremor and explosion seismic events are found to have an infrasonic component. Like seismic tremor, infrasonic tremor is typically observed as a weak background signal. Explosive infrasonic events were recorded 10–15 s after the explosive seismic events and with audible explosions prior to May 19. On May 19, high-frequency impulsive infrasonic events occurred sporadically and as swarms within hours of the eruption. These infrasonic events are observed to be coincident with swarms of long-period seismic events. Video coverage during the seismic–infrasonic experiment recorded intermittent releases of gases and ash during times when seismic and acoustic events were recorded. The sequence of seismic and infrasonic events is interpreted as representing a gas-rich fluid moving through a series of cracks and conduits beneath the active summit crater.     

Attenuation of Coda Waves at the Changbaishan Tianchi Volcanic Area in Northeast China

21 earthquakes recorded by a temporary seismic network in the Changbaishan Tianchi volcanic area in Northeast China operated during the summer of 2002 and 2003 were analyzed to estimate the S coda attenuation. The attenuation quality factor Q_c was estimated using the single scattering attenuation model of Sato (1977) in the frequency band from 4 to 24 Hz. All the events studied in this paper occurred at depths from 2 to 6 km with ML of 1.4–2.8. The epicentral distances are less than 25 km. For all events which occurred near the Tianchi Lake (caldera), the Q_c patterns obtained at the stations near the lake are similar, and the Q_c values are relatively small. At the stations located about 15 km east of the Tianchi Lake, however, the average Q_c is significantly higher. For an event which occurred 25km from the lake to the west, Q_c patterns derived at the stations near the lake are quite similar to the above mentioned Q_c for stations located in the east. Further study shows that Q_c value in the north and central areas of the volcano is relatively lower than that in the surrounding area. Compared to other volcanic areas in the world, the average Q_c of the Changbaishan Tianchi volcanic area is obviously lower. The deep seismic sounding and teleseismic receiver function studies indicated more than one lower velocity layer in the crust. The MT studies suggested the presence of high conductive bodies beneath the area. We interpret the strong attenuation of coda waves near the Changbaishan Tianchi volcano as being possibly related to high temperature medium caused by shallow magma chambers.     

Frequency dependent characteristics of coda wave quality factor in central and southcentral Alaska

Coda wave quality factor (Q _c ) was investigated by using digital data (100 sample sec^–1) recorded by a vertical component short-period station installed for this study. The station was located in the greater Fairbanks area in central Alaska. From several hundred earthquakes recorded by this station in about a year, 27 earthquakes were selected for the above study; 7 of these selected earthquakes were located along the Alaska Wadati-Benioff zone (Pacific plate). The other 20 earthquakes were located in the area of intraplate seismicity (North American plate). The data was filtered using 9 pass-bands with center frequency varying from 1.5 Hz to 16 Hz with octave bandwidth. The values ofQ _c obtained from the coda amplitude decay rates measured on the filtered data after corrections due to the recording instrument and source-receiver separation show appreciable frequency dependence. The value ofQ _c varies in the range of 253 and 1190 corresponding to the frequency interval from 1.5 Hz to 16 Hz for the study area. This variation is close to that reported by others for the Kanto region of Japan. Moreover, the characteristics ofQ _c obtained in the present case seem to be independent of epicentral distance and hypocentral depth.