Study of the Q -value in and around Minle Basin

The digital seimograph network set up by China and France in Zhangye of China had been operated in 1988. The Zhangye network is situated in the middle segment of Hexi corridor and Qilina mountain, which was regarded as a monitoring earthquake area. Using the records of Zhangye digital network theQ-values in and around Minle basin have been measured. The results of this study showed that theQp-values range from 500 to 780, andQs-values range from 230 to 460. TheQ-values of inside of Minle basin are higher than that around the basin. The greater parts of moderate and strong earthquakes occurred along tectonic belts around the Minle basin. Moreover, TheQ-values increased with the depth of penctration of wave ray. The attenuation of S wave is stronger than P wave in shallow layer of crust. Some problems ofQ-value change versus time before and after Sunan eathquake (M _s=5.7) have been also disscussed. These results can be applied to study and to monitor seismic danger of the Minle monitoring area. The Chinese version of this paper appeared in the Chinese edition ofActa Seismologica Sinica,15, 296–302, 1993.     

民乐盆地及其周围地区小震震源参数的研究

本文利用中国和法国合作建立的张掖数字化地震台网记录的小震资料,测定了民乐、肃南、张掖和临泽4个地区的小震震源参数。用P波测定的上述4个地区的应力降为6.1—9.5bar,用S波测定的应力降为26—60bar。在肃南5.7级地震发生前一个月左右,出现应力降减小的现象,这可能是一种前兆信息。本文还对用两种波测定的应力降的差异进行了初步讨论。     

Research on the regionalQ values of coda waves for the aftershocks in Luquan,Yunnan of 1985

Based on the scattering coda model by which local and regional earthquakes are interpreted (K. Aki, 1969), and using observational coda data of 68 aftershocks of the 1985 Luquan, Yunnan earthquake registered by the VGK seismographs installed at 12 stations in the Yunnan regional short-period network, theQ-values of coda waves are calculated respectively for 6 time intervals. It is observed that within the frequency range of 0.40–1.65 Hz of the observed data, theQ-values are closely related with the frequencies and the calculated codaQ ranges between 80–240 with the coefficient of frequency dependence η=0.45. The calculated source factorsB(f> _p) of the coda waves which indicate the scattering strength are mostly within the order 10^?23–10^?24. Areas with lowQ-values present high scattering. It should be noted that by comparing data obtained before and after the Luquan earthquake, clear changes can be detected in theQ-values measured at stations close to the epicentral region, and that theQ-values of the aftershock coda are less than about one half of the pre-shock values. It may be mentioned that the time-dependent regional variations of theQ-values might possibly bring about practical significance in earthquake prediction. Moreover, aftershock focal parameters are determined. Through discussions on the quantitative relations between the focal parameters, we get: 1gE=1.59M _L+ 11.335;E=(2.10 × 10^?5)M ₀; length of focal rupturea=0.40?0.80 km for 3.0≤M _L<5.0 events; stress drop Δσ=(6.0–130) ×10⁵ Pa. Through interpretation of the data, we have also learned the important characteristics that there is no linear relation between the stress drops and the earthquake magnitudes.     

Q β structure of the crust and upper mantle in the eastern Sino-Korean paraplatform

Based on the long period surface wave data recorded by the China Digital Seismograph Network (CDSN), theQ _R of fundamental mode Rayleigh wave with periods from 10 s to 146 s is determined for the eastern Sino-Korean paraplatform in this paper. TheQ _β models of the crust and upper mantle are respectively obtained for the 4 paths, with the aid of stochastic inverse method. It shows that in the eastern Sino-Korean paraplatform, the average crustalQ _β is about 200, and that there exists a weak attenuation layer in the middle crust (about 10–20 km deep) which is possibly related to earthquake-prone layer. A strong attenuation layer (lowQ) of 70 km thick extensively exists in the uppermost mantle, with the buried depth about 80 km. The averageQ _R of fundamental mode Rayleigh wave is between the value of stable tectonic region and that of active tectonic region, and much close to the latter.     

Inversion of source parameters and attenuation of the Tangshan aftershocks

Source parameters and characteristics of regional attenuation of Tangshan aftershocks are studied by using digital records of Tangshan aftershocks. An inversion method of P wave spectra to reduce influence on the ambiguity in the estimates of parameters by the usual spectrum analysis method is developed. By testing with digital simulation data and applying to actual data, it is confirmed that the method is usable. Source parameters of the Tangshan Luanxian area are obtained by using records of 35 earthquakes at 5 stations.Q values of P wave and high frequency decay rate γ of source spectrum at 5 stations are obtained. TheQ values range from 408 to 847, and the mean value is 520; whiley ranges from 1.54 to 3.22, and the mean value is 2.41. In the studies of spectra of the micro-earthquakes in the Luanxian area, that stress drop increases with increasing earthquake moment is found. The Chinese version of this paper appeared in the Chinese edition ofActa Seismologica Sinica,13, 430–441, 1991.     

Attenuation of multiple ScS waves beneath the Japanese Arc

36 pairs of multiply-reflected ScS waves from deep earthquakes around Japan are analyzed to investigate the anelastic properties of the mantle on the continental and oceanic sides of the dipping slab. The average Q-value for shear waves passing through the mantle on the oceanic side is found to be 226 in the frequency range 10–40 mHz. This Q-value is in good agreement with the Q models SL8 (Anderson and Hart, 1978) and QBS (Sailor and Dziewonski, 1978) which have been derived from free oscillation data. Assuming that the Q-value for the mantle deeper than 400 km on the continental side of the Japanese Arc is the same as that for the model SL8, we obtain a value of Q = 53 in the upper mantle above the dipping slab beneath the Sea of Japan. Higher Q-values are obtained for the mantle behind the northern Izu-Bonin arc.     

TheQ value variations in the preparing process of rock rupture

In this paper, the "spectral amplitude ratio method" (SAR), "energy method" (EN) and "coda wave method" (CW) are used to calculate theQ value variations of gneiss in the preparing rupture process. The obtained results show that the variation state ofQ values by SAR features the shape of relative stability—gradual increment to the maximum—then decrement and final rupture. The variation state ofQ values by EN is just contrary to that by SAR, i. e. with the shape of stability—decrement—increment—and final rupture. The varation state ofQ values by CW is similar to that by EN, its main frequency features the shape of relatively high value—decrement to the minimum—increment—and final rupture. But to the high frequency (higher than the main frequency), the variation state ofQ values features the shape of the stable value-increment to the maximum-decrement-and final rupture. At the same time, the results by coda wave amplitude spectrum show that, when stress reaches 70% of rupture stress, the high frequency component of S wave rapidly reduces (Q _c increasing); at the time of impending the main rupture, the main frequency component reduces with a large scale (Q _c increasing again), this may be the reason which causes the different variation states of two codaQ values. The result of amplitude spectra of P, S (initial wave) waves also show that with the appearance of microcracks the frequency band of S wave turn to be narrow, the high frequency component is reduced quickly, i. e. the S wave spectra have different variation states with different frequency components. That is why theQ _s obtained by different methods have different variation characteristics.     

The coda attenuation of the Yao’an area in Yunnan Province

An earthquake withM=6.5 happened on January 15, 2000 in Yao’an of Yunnan Province. After the earthquake, a temporary digital network with 6 detectors around the epicenter area was set up. 402 aftershocks were located more precisely. According to coda short recording observed, the coda averaging quality factor has been acquired via Sato’s single scattering model analyses,Q _c(f)=49f ^0.95,f=1.5～20.0 Hz, which has the attenuation characteristics of high structural active region.     

A Frequency-dependent Relation of Coda Qc for Koyna-Warna Region, India

—Attenuation properties of the lithosphere around the Koyna-Warna seismic zone is studied by estimating the coda-Q _c from 30 local earthquakes of magnitude varying from 1.5 to 3.8. An average lapse time of 65 sec used in the single scattering model sampled a circular area with an average radius of 114 km. The estimated Q _c values show a frequency-dependent relation, Q _c =169 f?^0.77, and range from 169 at 1 Hz to 1565 at 18 Hz. A comparison of worldwide Q studies reveals that for a large frequency range the Q for active regions is low as compared to that for stable regions. However, South Carolina and Norway are exceptions in that their Q is low in the low frequency range while New England and North Iberia are exceptions as they have a Q value similar to that for active regions like Spain, Turkey, Italy and Garhwal Himalaya (STIH), in the higher frequency range. In contrast to this, the Q for the Koyna-Warna area, which belongs to a stable region, is low in the entire frequency range as compared to the stable regions and similar to the active STIH regions.     

Sediment Thicknesses and Q<Subscript>s</Subscript> vs. Q<Subscript>p</Subscript> Relations in the Kachchh Rift Basin,Gujarat, India Using Sp Converted Phases

Delineation of the top sedimentary structure and its Q_s vs. Q_p relationship using the travel-time difference of direct S and converted Sp phase is key to understanding the seismic hazard of any sedimentary basin area. We constructed filtered displacement waveforms from local ETNA Episensor acceleration recordings as well as local velocity recordings of aftershocks of the 2001 Bhuj earthquake recorded by the Kachchh seismological network of the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Hyderabad, India during 2001–2004. Stations are within 15–70km of epicenters, and the resulting displacement waveforms are generally simple, displaying prominent P, Sp, and S wave pulses. Particle motion of P and S waves suggest near-vertical raypaths consistent with preliminary depth estimates. The direct S wave on the horizontal component is characterized by lower frequency content than the converted Sp phase on the vertical component. This difference in frequency content between S and Sp phases can be explained in terms of different attenuation effects for P and S waves in the unconsolidated sediments. The Sp phase is generated by S-to-P phase conversion at the base of Mesozoic sediments of the Kachchh basin. Travel-time inversion (VELEST) of 2565 P and 2380 S arrivals from 658 well located aftershocks recorded at 8–14 three-component local seismic stations led to 1 D velocity models indicated very slow sediments in the upper 0–2 km depth range (Vp: 2.92 km/s and Vs: 0.90 km/s) and an increasing trend of velocities with depth at 2–40 km depth. The estimated sediment thicknesses beneath 12 accelerograph and 6 seismograph sites from the estimated velocity model and the travel-time difference between S and converted Sp phases reaches a maximum of (1.534 ± 0.117) km beneath Bandri (near the location of 2001 Bhuj mainshock) and attains a minimum sediment thickness of (0.858 ± 0.104) km beneath Ramvav and Burudia. The spectral ratios between Sp and S from 159 three-component accelerograms have been used to study seismic wave attenuation in the Kachchh rift basin. The estimated Q_s vs. Q_p relations for 12 accelerograph sites vary from Q_s = 0.184 Q_p (at Chobari) to Q_s = 0.505 Q_p (at Dudhai). For stations Chobari, Chopdwa, Jahawarnagar, Vondh and Tapar, the spectral ratio slopes and hence the calculated Q_s vs. Q_p relations are effectively the same, and the correlation coefficients are quite high (0.91–0.93). Stations Adhoi, Manfara, New Dudhai, Dudhai and Sikara have similar Q_s vs. Q_p relationships to each other and also have high correlation coefficients (0.78–0.87). The spectral ratios for stations Anjar and Ramvav are small and poorly constrained, resulting in less reliable Q_s vs. Q_p relations. This could be due to noisy data, fewer available waveforms, or scattering due to velocity heterogeneities and/or interface irregularities.     

Estimation of the Intrinsic Absorption and Scattering Attenuation in Northeastern Venezuela (Southeastern Caribbean) Using Coda Waves

—Northeastern Venezuela has been studied in terms of coda wave attenuation using seismograms from local earthquakes recorded by a temporary short-period seismic network. The studied area has been separated into two subregions in order to investigate lateral variations in the attenuation parameters. Coda-Q ^?1 (Q _c ^?1) has been obtained using the single-scattering theory. The contribution of the intrinsic absorption (Q _i ^?1) and scattering (Q _s ^?1) to total attenuation (Q _t ^?1) has been estimated by means of a multiple lapse time window method, based on the hypothesis of multiple isotropic scattering with uniform distribution of scatterers. Results show significant spatial variations of attenuation the estimates for intermediate depth events and for shallow events present major differences. This fact may be related to different tectonic characteristics that may be due to the presence of the Lesser Antilles subduction zone, because the intermediate depth seismic zone may be coincident with the southern continuation of the subducting slab under the arc.     

关中、陕南及周边地区尾波衰减特性（Qc）研究

根据单次散射模型的尾波功率谱分析方法,利用陕西数字地震台网宽频带数字地震波形记录资料,计算了关中陕南及周边地区13个频段的Qc值。结果显示:在2ts~35 s的时间窗内,Q0值在37.54~72.59之间,全区平均值为58.44,在上升运动显著的秦岭山脉值较大,关中盆地和陕南值较小;在2ts~70 s的时间窗内,Q0值在194.74~283.50 之间,全区平均值为186.79,莫霍界面高波速区值较大,低速区和低速梯度带值较小。     

Attenuation of body waves in Southeastern Sicily (Italy)

The attenuation of P- and S-waves in Southeastern Sicily was estimated by applying two different methods in time and frequency domains. We analyzed waveforms from about 290 local events (0.6≤M_L≤4.6) recorded at a three-component digital network.By applying the pulse broadening method to the first P-wave pulse, we found an average Q_p value of ca. 140. The application of the frequency decay method provided a Q_p value of ca. 120, in the low-frequency band (3-9 Hz). Conversely, in the high frequency range (16-27 Hz) the average Q_p is significantly larger (ca. 640). The frequency decay method was also applied to S-waves spectra. In the low frequency range (2-5 Hz) the estimated average Q_s is ca. 190. As for Q_p, also Q_s, in the high frequency range (16-27 Hz), is larger (ca. 700). These results evidenced a frequency dependence of both the quality factors Q_p and Q_s, as commonly observed in tectonically active zones characterized by high degree of heterogeneity.     

Attenuation of shear-waves in the lithosphere for frequencies from 0.05 to 25 Hz

Q for shear-waves in the crust and upper mantle was determined as a function of frequency in the range 1–25 Hz, using band-pass filtered records of about 900 earthquakes occurring in the central Japan area with focal depths from 0 to 150 km. The data were supplied from two stations in the Kanto region, operated by the Earthquake Research Institute, University of Tokyo. The method is taken from Aki and Chouet (1975) and Rautian and Khalturin (1978), and is based on elimination of the source effect from observed spectra of shear-waves, by taking the ratio of their amplitudes to those of coda-waves (measured at a fixed lapse time). The effect of radiation patterns is removed by averaging the ratio over many events. The experimental procedure uses basically a single-station method, and its validity was confirmed by the agreement between results obtained from station Tsukuba and those from Dodaira. We found that Q shows a strong dependence on frequency: Q increases with frequency f proportionally to fⁿ, where n was found to be 0.8 in the northeastern part of Kanto (area A), and 0.6 in the rest of the region (areas B + C). Previously, a value for n of 0.5 had been determined for the Garm area in central Asia by Rautian and Khalturin. In general, our results agree with those of Fedotov and Boldyrev (1969), who obtained values of n around 0.6 for the Kuril-Islands, using a single-station method based on assumptions more restrictive than those adopted here. Q values for the lithosphere have been estimated by various workers using surface-waves with periods greater than 15 s. If we combine the results from surface-waves with those obtained from the S- to coda-amplitude ratio, we find that the frequency-dependence of Q^?1 is similar to that obtained from a simple relaxation model, with the peak somewhere around 0.5 Hz.     

Research on codaQ distribution in Beijing and its surrounding regions

Based on the single scattering model of seismic coda waves, we have calculated theQ-factor in Beijing and its surrounding regions by means of calculating the power density spectrum in frequency domain with a fixed time window. The digital seismic data of 69 earthquakes from Beijing Telemetered Seismographic Network are used. These earthquakes were recorded from January 1, 1989 to December 31, 1990 at 20 stations. This paper shows the variations of the codaQ-factors in the studied region with different sites, frequency and lapse time, and the temporal change of the codaQ-factors in these two years. The results indicate that codaQ-factor depends strongly on the lapse time and frequency. It is assumed that whenQ _C=Q ₀f^η, for the three time windows of 15–30s, 30–60s and 60–90s, the average values ofQ ₀ are 48, 115 and 217; and the average values ofη are 0. 89, 0.91 and 0.74, respectively.     

Is clustered seismicity an indicator of regional stress? Insights from earthquake sequences in Yongning-Luguhu faulted basin,Southwest China

Using hypocenter relocation, moment tensor inversion, stress field inversion, and fault slip tendency analysis, this study systematically investigated three M5.5–5.8 earthquake sequences that occurred after 2000 in the Yongning-Luguhu faulted basin in the middle of the Lijiang-Xiaojinhe fault zone within the Sichuan-Yunnan block, Southwest China. Our results show that since the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake, the tectonic stress pattern in this area may have changed and that b-values estimated for the earthquake sequences show evidence of an increasing trend in stress in the study area. Seismicity in the small-scale faulted basin adjacent to the large-scale fault zone is a possible indicator of regional stress. We also note that the aftershocks of the M5.7 earthquake sequence in 2012 and the M5.5 earthquake sequence in 2022 show relatively clear fluid diffusion-triggering characteristics. Overpressure of deep fluids is still the main factor driving seismic activity in the region, and we propose that the background tectonic stresses have not yet reached critical levels.     

Coda Q c Attenuation and Source Parameter Analysis in Friuli (NE Italy) and its Vicinity

—?The digital data acquired by 16 short-period seismic stations of the Friuli-Venezia-Giulia seismic network for 56 earthquakes of magnitude 2.3–4.7 which occurred in and near NE Italy have been used to estimate the coda attenuation Q _c and seismic source parameters. The entire area under study has been divided into five smaller regions, following a criterion of homogeneity in the geological characteristics and the constrains imposed by the distribution of available events. Standard IASPEI routines for coda Q _c determination have been used for the analysis of attenuation in the different regions showing a marked anomaly in the values measured across the NE border between Friuli and Austria for Q ₀ value. A large variation exists in the coda attenuation Q _c for different regions, indicating the presence of great heterogeneities in the crust and upper mantle of the region. The mean value of Q _c (f) increases from 154–203 at 1.5?Hz to 1947–2907 at 48?Hz frequency band with large standard deviation estimates.¶Using the same earthquake data, the seismic-moment, M ₀, source radius, r and stress-drop, Δσ for 54 earthquakes have been estimated from P- and S-wave spectra using the Brune's seismic source model. The earthquakes with higher stress-drop (greater than 1?Kbar) occur at depths ranging from 8 to 14?km.     

Seismic physical modeling and quality factor

Accurate Q parameter is hard to be obtained, but there is great difference between Q measurements from different measurement methods in seismic physical modelling. The influence factors, stability and accuracy of different methods are analyzed through standard sample experiment and the seismic physical modelling. Based on this, we proposed an improved method for improving accuracy of pulse transmission method, in which the samples with similar acoustic properties to the test sample are selected as the reference samples. We assess the stability and accuracy of the pulse transmission, pulse transmission insertion, and reflection wave methods for obtaining the quality factor Q using standard and reference samples and seismic physical modeling. The results suggest that the Q-values obtained by the pulse transmission method are strongly affected by diffraction and the error is 50% or greater, whereas the relative error of the improved pulse transmission method is about 10%. By using a theoretical diffraction correction method and the improved measurement method, the differences among the Q-measuring methods can be limited to within 10%.     

Q by pulse broadening in rocks under pressure

Experimental results of Q due to pulse-broadening measurements on compressional waves in laboratory samples of lossy media like polymers and rocks are presented. The application of the method is found suitable for the study of rock samples subjected to hydrostatic pressure. The results of the present work are well within the limiting values of Q of such materials reported in handbooks. A three-to-four-fold increase in the Q-values of rocks is observed due to the application of hydrostatic fluid pressures of up to 5 kilobars.