Random seismic noise attenuation data using the discrete and the continuous wavelet transforms

In this paper, we propose a technique of random noise attenuation from seismic data using discrete and continuous wavelet transforms. Firstly, the discrete wavelet transform (DWT) is applied to denoise seismic data using the threshold method. After, we calculate the continuous wavelet transform of the denoised seismic seismogram, the final denoised seismic seismogram is the continuous wavelet transform coefficients at the lower scale. Application to a synthetic seismogram shows the robustness of the proposed tool for random noise attenuation. Application to real vertical seismic profile recorded in Algeria clearly shows the efficiency of the proposed tool for random noise attenuation.     

华北盆地Lg波衰减及台站场地响应特征

华北盆地是中国大陆地震活跃区之一,通过地震波衰减及场地响应参数研究该区构造介质属性及台基属性对地震预测预报、灾害评估具有重要意义.基于Lg波谱比的联合反演方法是获得地震波衰减参数及场地响应的有效方法,通过随机重采样方法可以检验解的稳定性.使用华北盆地68个台站记录的2004—2008年的149次地震,震级M_L为1.7~5.3的震中距为100~600 km,按信噪比大于2的标准挑选有效垂向记录1 000多条,地震射线较好地覆盖了华北盆地38°N~41°N、114°E~120°E区域.采用2.60~3.65 km/s的速度窗截取Lg波形并转化为频谱,研究频率范围为1~7 Hz,频率间隔0.2 Hz.计算得到的地震波衰减品质因子Q(f)与频率f的关系可表示为Q(f)=125±4.4f0.86±0.03,研究区为低Q₀(对应频率1 Hz),高频率依赖性的构造活跃区.基岩台站对地震波没有表现出明显放大作用,黄土沉积台站低频端比高频端明显放大;场地响应波动较大台站其解的标准偏差也大,说明场地响应的不稳定性体现了台基属性的非稳定性特征.      

Generation of stochastic earthquake ground motion in western Saudi Arabia as a first step in development of regional ground motion prediction model

Earthquake ground motion model is an essential part of seismic hazard assessment. The model consists in several empirical ground motion prediction equations (GMPEs) that are considered to be applicable to the given region. When the recorded ground motion data are scarce, numerical modeling of ground motion based on available seismological information is widely used. We describe results of stochastic simulation of ground motion acceleration records for western Saudi Arabia. The simulation was performed using the finite fault model and considering peak ground acceleration and amplitudes of spectral acceleration at natural frequencies 0.2 and 1.0 s. Based on the parameters of the input seismological model that were accepted in similar previous studies, we analyze influence of variations in the source factor (stress drop) and in the local attenuation and amplification factors (kappa value, crustal amplification). These characteristics of the model are considered as the major contributors to the ground motion variability. The results of our work show that distribution of simulated ground motion parameters versus magnitude and distance reveals an agreement with the GMPEs recently used in seismic hazard assessment for the region. Collection of credible information about seismic source, propagation path, and site attenuation parameters using the regional ground motion database would allow constraining the seismological model and developing regional GMPEs. The stochastic simulation based on regional seismological model may be applied for generation of ground motion time histories used for development of analytical fragility curves for typical constructions in the region.     

Site Response as a Function of Near-Surface Geology in the South Iceland Seismic Zone

Site response measurements provide information on the amplification of ground motions generated by local conditions. Recent studies of large destructive earthquakes have shown that damage during the earthquakes are often caused by the amplification of seismic waves in near-surface sedimentary layers. The estimation of site response is therefore critical, in order to evaluate the true seismic hazard potential of a given area. We investigated local site amplifications in the South Iceland Seismic Zone (SISZ). Nine digital seismographs were deployed, temporarily, in an area of approximately 400 km2, in the westernmost part of the SISZ. Among the 90 events recorded, 15 were used in this study, including a magnitude 3.1 (ML) event and selected aftershocks, which occurred in the northern outskirts of the village Hveragerdi. Single Station Spectral Ratios (SSSR) of the recorded earthquakes revealed some of the effects of local site conditions. Spectral amplification factors of 2–5 on average, can be expected in the SIL area, depending on the sediment type and thickness. Higher site amplifications occur in the southern part of the study region, where the thickest sedimentary cover is found. Spectral amplification, related to topographical effects, is observed at the bedrock reference station, Bjarnastadir. Standard Spectral Ratios (SSR), with respect to the bedrock reference station, Bjarnastadir, were also calculated for some stations, in order to compare the two spectral ratio results. The two methods show a good correlation at some stations, whereas at others they vary considerably. The comparison between the earthquake and ambient noise data, on the other hand, gave better correlation when the SSSR method is used.     

Towards improving ambient noise tomography using simultaneously curvelet denoising filters and SEM simulations of seismic ambient noise

The aim of this article is to investigate a possible way to improve ambient noise tomography by expanding the data base of useful cross-correlation measurements. We show that the curvelet transform makes it possible to compute synthetic noise correlations by simulating directly seismic ambient noise using the spectral element method. These synthetic correlations can in turn be used to identify surface waves and overtones even on correlations having a signal to noise ratio much lower than one. We hope that the possibility to compute SEM synthetic correlations and to extract more information from correlations will be useful to improve ambient noise tomography and monitoring.     

On amplitude information carried by the ambient seismic field

The use of the ambient seismic field (ASF) to extract Earth's response has received significant attention in the last several years. Multiple studies demonstrate the utility of the ASF for estimating high-resolution velocity models in various locations. In this paper, we discuss the amplitude information carried by the ASF. Amplitude information includes both amplification effects due to elastic structure, such as low velocity sedimentary basins, and attenuation effects in the crust and upper mantle or even in buildings. As has been suggested by other authors, amplitude measurements may be biased due to non-uniformities in ambient field excitation; however, we find very similar and stable results for different time intervals for both amplification and attenuation, suggesting that this bias may not be as large as feared. We conclude that valuable amplitude information can be recovered from the ASF through careful processing. Amplitude measurements may be particularly valuable due to the enhanced sensitivity of attenuation to fluids and/or temperature fluctuations.     

A site amplification factor map of the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands

Considering the lack of site effect cartography in the Iberian Peninsula region to be related to the strong motion data, we present a site amplification factor map covering the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands. Steps leading to produce the map have included the classification of geological units from the 1:1,000,000 scale Geological Map of Spain into six site classes characterized on a seismic response basis, and the calculation, for every site class, of both short-period and mid-period amplification factors. In order to test the validity and applicability of the map, we have calculated the synthetic seismic intensity in the particular localities where several past earthquakes were felt, supposing a point source approximation. The synthetic intensities have been obtained with and without site amplification factors, resulting in two types of synthetic isoseismals maps that have been compared with the corresponding observed isoseismals. As the amplification factors obtained are only applicable to the linear domain, the synthetic intensities greater than VII are only illustrative. A main conclusion has been drawn about the fact that synthetic isoseismals with site amplification factor approach to the related observed isoseismals in a higher degree than synthetic isoseismals without site amplification factor. In addition, the resemblances between the synthetic isoseismals produced with site amplification factors and the corresponding observed isoseismals have been found to be more evident at shorter epicentral distances, provided that intensities are lower than VIII, and therefore, we remain in the linear domain.     

Assessment of the stability of H/V spectral ratios from ambient noise and comparison with earthquake data in the Cologne area (Germany)

Situated in an active tectonic region the highly industrialised Cologne area (Germany) suffers from moderate-sized earthquakes. Our contribution to the mitigation of earthquake risk includes a microzonation study using ambient seismic noise and earthquake recordings from two field campaigns. An analysis of these data using the horizontal-to-vertical (H/V) as well as the classical spectral ratio (CSR) technique led to the following observations and conclusions: (1) The spatial variation in the thickness of the sedimentary cover is reliably retrieved using the fundamental resonance frequency estimated from the peak in the (H/V) ratio of ambient noise. (2) This fundamental resonance frequency is stable in time, but the amplitude of the peak (the amplification factor) is not. (3) The relative amplification variation of the H/V ratio in the area should therefore be checked systematically with repeated measurements before drawing conclusions about its significance. (4) The analysis of the H/V ratio of ambient noise provides the lower frequency bound, above which amplification may occur. (5) The shapes of the spectral ratios obtained by the different methods are generally in good agreement. However, the analysis of earthquake data shows that significant amplification of ground motion may also occur at frequencies higher than the fundamental one even when thick sediments are present.     

地震资料处理中的Radon变换及反Q滤波

Radon变换利用信号的横向相关性和信号根幅随炮检距变化的特征,提取有效反射信号同相轴,同时提取的零炮检距地震剖面,保留了地震记录的高频信息,达到了提高分辨率的目的。叠前反Q滤波是以FUTTERMAN衰减模型为理论基础,校正地震子波相位拉伸,补偿地震波频率和振幅的损失,达到提高地震资料分辨率和信噪比及改善同相轴连续性的目的。      

考虑场地效应的高陡岩质斜坡地震失稳机制

以金沙江乌东德水电站右岸的鸡冠山梁子高陡斜坡为典型实例,在斜坡表层地震动监测基础上,通过在斜坡弹性模型底部分别输入水平、竖向Ricker子波,发现：斜坡顶部低模量岩体材料在水平Rick子波激励下,易产生放大效应;而当输入竖向Rick子波时,易在模型表层地形凸起部位产生共振放大,其顶面表层卓越频率也与现场实测值基本一致。其次,对比分析了在分别输入汶川八角什邡加速度记录、典型鲁甸地震加速度记录时的斜坡弹塑性模型的稳定性和动力响应特征,发现：（1）斜坡在静力条件下可能存在3种不同位置潜在滑面,但输入两种地震波后,变形破坏区仅发生在顶部滑面位置;（2）输入汶川地震波时,斜坡顶部滑面剪应变增量明显大于输入鲁甸地震波时对应值,且前者的滑面出现明显整体拉破坏区,滑面上部水平、竖向残余变形也不收敛,处于震后斜坡失稳状态。后者滑面底部无明显的拉破坏区,滑面上部残余变形收敛,处于震后斜坡稳定状态;（3）斜坡水平、竖向加速度都在斜坡顶部低模量材料表层出现明显的放大现象,场地效应明显。此外,表层加速度普遍大于斜坡内部相应值,尤其是地形凸起位置。输入汶川地震波时斜坡顶部水平向加速度放大系数大于鲁甸地震波相应值,但竖向加速度放大系数两者基本一致。     

稳定有效的反Q滤波方法

反Q滤波是补偿大地吸收衰减有效方法之一,其稳定性和有效性是反Q滤波的前提条件.笔者研究了一种稳定的反Q滤波方法,并通过理论模型和实际数据与传统的增益限制反Q滤波方法进行了对比.结果表明:稳定反Q滤波更好地恢复了衰减的地震信号,并自动限制了对噪声的过渡放大.同时,还分析了噪声和增益限制因子G_(lim)对稳定反Q滤波的影响.     

近断层速度脉冲地震动引起的边坡永久位移预测模型

基于小波分析方法,从NGA数据库的3 551条地震记录中选取189条速度脉冲地震动,地震动均转换成发生最强脉冲的方向。基于Newmark方法,分析了近断层速度脉冲地震动作用引起的边坡永久位移值。结果表明：近断层速度脉冲地震动对边坡产生特殊的破坏作用,表现在滑动位移值大、滑动体破坏力强等方面;边坡永久位移值与速度脉冲地震动的峰值速度具有高度相关性,位移值较大时尤为明显。建立了基于单变量形式的峰值速度及双变量形式的峰值速度、峰值加速度两种边坡永久位移预测模型,模型简单实用,与回归数据具有很好的相关性,前者更适用于预测对实际工程影响较大的永久位移值,且离散性较小。提出的预测模型为考虑近断层地震动速度脉冲特性影响的边坡永久位移值的概率地震灾害分析提供了基础。     

Seismic microzonation study in Doon valley, northwest Himalaya, India

Fundamental frequency map of site amplification at different sites in Doon valley, Uttarakhand, India is prepared from microtremor (ground ambient noise) using Horizontal to Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) technique. The fan deposited alluvium filled synclinal valley of Doon lies between Main Boundary Thrust (MFT) and Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT) in the Himalayan active seismic belt and experienced many earthquakes in the past. The HVSR at different sites in the Doon valley ranges between the predominant frequencies 0.13 and 12.77 Hz. The HVSR in lower frequencies indicates that the site has either thick sediment covers or less compact rocks with fractures. Based on information on fundamental frequency and soft soil thickness, site classification map is generated. Results indicate that degree of compactness of rock types and presences of sediments vary significantly, which may play a major role in seismic hazard. The use of microtremor, therefore, constitutes an effective and inexpensive approach to site response and soft soil thickness estimation for preliminary microzonation.     

连续小波变换在面波压制中的应用

由于原始地震反射数据含有大量噪声,因此地震数据的降噪处理是十分重要的,而面波的压制是陆上地震资料降噪处理的主要问题之一。这里根据共炮点记录中面波与反射波主要能量在时间～尺度域的分布不同,以及面波的频率特性等特点,提出了一种基于时间～尺度域的面波衰减方法。将该方法用于实际炮集资料的处理,并与常用的F-K滤波方法进行对比,结果表明,该方法在衰减面波干扰的同时,能更好地保护反射波,并且对于信噪比较低的浅层反射信号能够取得较好的效果。     

Localization of Geological Inhomogeneities on the Arctic Shelf by Analysis of the Seismoacoustic Wave Field Mode Structure

The results of analysis of wave modes in the ambient noise induced in the layered structure “lithosphere–hydrosphere–ice sheet” are presented. It is shown that instrumental monitoring over background noises in an ice-covered shallow sea allows us to apply methods of seismic tomography in order to determine the structural parameters of a layered geophysical media.     

Hazard mapping based on macroseismic data considering the influence of geological conditions

The object of this study is to consider directly the influence of regional geological conditions on the assessment of seismic hazard. It is assumed that macroseismic data at individual locations contain, in an average way, the influence of geological conditions.A Data Base referring to 199 historical (5) and instrumental (194, in the 1947–1993 period) events with macroseismic information in 1195 locations of Portugal was built. For any given seismic event, whenever macroseismic information was available at a location (town, village, etc.), an EMS-92 intensity value was estimated. To each one of those locations a geological unit, representing the most common type of soil, was assigned, based on the Geological Portuguese Map at a scale 1:500 000; the geological units were grouped into three categories: soft, intermediate and hard soils.The Data Base was used to determine the attenuation laws in terms of macroseismic intensity for the three different geological site conditions, using multiple linear regression analysis. The reasonability of the laws was tested by (i) checking residual distributions and (ii) comparing the map of isoseismals of important earthquakes with the isoseismals generated by the attenuation curves derived for each one of the three different soil classes, taking into consideration the soil class of each site. The main results of attenuation modeling are: high dispersion on macroseismic intensity data; all the models predict intensity values, for short hypocentral distances, lower than the ones observed; and for some important analyzed earthquakes and for the observed range of distances, the models confirm the expectancy that macroseismic intensity increases from hard to soft soil.The approach to obtain the hazard assessment at each location consisted in the use of the attenuation law specifically derived for the class of soil of that particular location. This method, which considers the influence of the regional geology, was illustrated with the mapping of hazard for the country for several return periods. Comparison with previous maps not taking into consideration the regional geological conditions emphasizes the importance of this new parameter. It can be concluded that (i) soil segmentation is clearly the cause for hazard increase in the region to the north of Lisbon, especially at sites with soft and intermediate soils as the ones in lower Tagus valley; the maximum increase on hazard is, in any case, less than one degree; (ii) when geological conditions are disregarded in the attenuation regression analysis, hazard pattern is similar to the one obtained for the case of hard soil everywhere.     

形态分量分析在去除地震资料随机噪声中的应用

以数学形态学和稀疏信号理论为依据,采用形态分量分析(MCA)方法去除地震数据中的随机噪声。应用MCA方法的关键在于选取合适的字典,从地震数据的特点和计算复杂性出发,选取UWT字典和Curvelet字典,一个用来稀疏表示地震数据的局部奇异部分,一个用来稀疏表示地震数据的线状变化部分。采用BCR算法求解目标函数,通过将数据分解为形态特征不同的2个分量,舍弃在字典中不能有效稀疏表示的随机噪声来达到去噪目的。作为一种二维去噪方法,MCA去噪方法在时间和空间方向上都具有很强的随机噪声抑制能力;由于UWT字典和Curvelet字典能够比传统的小波变换有更强的稀疏表示能力,MCA去噪方法对有效信息的损害较小,是一种保真保幅的去噪方法。模型测试和实际资料处理验证了该方法的有效性。     

HVSR estimation of site effects in Melilla (Spain) and the damage pattern from the 01/25/2016 Mw 6.3 Alborán Sea earthquake

The January 25, 2016, Mw 6.3 Alborán Sea earthquake shook the autonomous city of Melilla (Spain) with a macro-seismic intensity of VI (EMS-98). In spite of this low intensity, significant non-structural damages were reported, whose cost was estimated in more than 13 million euros. The damages were concentrated in the modernist district, which is considered the most important and valuable part of the city. This scenario is not new in Melilla, since historical and instrumental seismicity studies based on intensities felt in Melilla have revealed that earthquakes with intensities of V–VI have a return period of approximately 25 years. However, seismic microzonation studies have not been carried out so far. In this paper, we present a seismic microzonation study based on seismic noise measurements and the foreshock, mainshock and aftershock records of the January 25, 2016, earthquake. The seismic signals were processed using the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) technique. The frequency amplification results were correlated with geological formations, and after that they were correlated with the distribution of damages. The lagoon and the recent alluvial deposits show the maximum number of damaged buildings and maximum frequency amplifications of 2–8 between 2 and 7 Hz. In the coastal deposits, some amplification in the same frequency range has been observed, but other formations show a minimum number of damaged buildings and a flat spectral response ratio. Two important factors in this damage pattern are the high vulnerability of ornamental facades characteristics (non-structural elements) of the modern architecture buildings and their location on the lagoon and the recent alluvial deposits where maximum site amplification is reached.     

Ambient seismic vibration analysis and ground characterization in the vicinity of Algiers seismic zone

The Dar El Beida area, situated in the Mitidja basin, in the north central Tellian Atlas is characterized by its Plio-Quaternary sediments. The site effect analysis in this zone surrounding Algiers city is very important. The soil is constituted from recent soft sediments capable of amplifying seismic motion. Indeed, the analysis thanks to the ratio H/V ambient vibration method confirms these assumptions. An electric resistivity tomography strengthened the results obtained from ambient vibration for site characterization. This demonstrates once again the more or less homogeneous character of formations in this area. However, strongly amplifying its sediments largely explains the seismic acceleration of 0.52 g recorded following the 2003 Boumerdes earthquake.     

小波分析在地震资料去噪中的应用

小波变换方法已广泛应用于信号处理领域。应用多尺度小波分析方法来消除地震观测信号中的噪声是一种行之有效的方法。这里从小波变换的基本原理出发,详细介绍了地震信号的阈值去噪原理,并根据模拟信号和实测地震信号的频谱分析,讨论了如何选择小波基及去噪过程中的阈值取值问题。从小波分解理论知道,利用多尺度分解方式对地震资料进行分析处理,相当于对实测地震资料进行不同尺度的细化分析,由于对不同地区、不同资料的精度要求不同,我们只要使用不同的尺度进行小波变换处理,就可以得到去除原信号的细部巨变(噪声干扰)特征的信号。同时,我们对小波变换处理后重构的地震信号与原信号进行了对比分析,误差结果分析表明该方法切实可行。我们还利用MATLAB语言及其小波工具箱,实现了对地震资料的去噪处理。