Discussion on the Measurement Method for the Coda Wave Quality Factor

The Quality factor is the parameter that can be used to describe the energy attenuation on seismic wave. In theory, we can obtain the relationship between the change of the coda wave quality factor with time and the strong earthquake preparation process on the basis of the quality factor of a coda wave in a same ray path. However, in reality the coda wave quality factor measured by different seismic coda waves corresponds to different seismic wave ray paths. The change of the quality factor with time is related to non-elastic characteristics of the medium and the volume of scattering ellipsoid constrained by scattered wave phase fronts, besides the change of regional stress field. This paper discusses the relationship between quality factor, epicenter distance and different lapse time, and then discusses the relationship between quality factor and frequency. Furthermore the determination method of the coda wave quality factor is put forward. The improved determination method of the quality factor, which removes the influence of different earthquakes or propagation depth of scattered waves, may increase measurement precision, thus information pertaining to abnormal changes in quality factor and the relationship between the quality factor and earthquake preparation process can be acquired.