Engineering Ground Motion Modeling in the Near-Source Regime Using the Specific Barrier Model for Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis

—The specific barrier model is used for the first time to simulate ground motion accelerations for the purpose of probabilistic seismic hazard analyses at sites near a dominant fault system. It incorporates the simulation of fault geometry and the relationship between the stress drop and seismic moment to estimate the number of cracks on the fault for the specific barrier model. Radiated direct shear waves are established following Boore’s (1983) procedure. The simulated peak ground accelerations (PGA) are then calibrated by strong-motion data. Basically, the model is of uniform source, and the directivity of the source is not taken into consideration. The results show that the calibrated PGA values are not sensitive to the relationship between the stress drop and seismic moment. However, the calibrated PGA values may increase about 20 percent for sites near the fault when the cut-off frequency,?f _max?, is raised from 5 Hz to 10 Hz. The variability of the simulated ground motion is, in general, smaller than that of the empirical strong-motion data shown in the literature. This may be improved by adding randomness into the parameter of ?f _max and uncertainties into the empirical relationships adopted in the model. The simulated attenuation curves may be used to judge which types of conventional attenuation equations are better at representing the attenuation of PGA for sites near the fault, especially for large earthquake events.     

2-D spectral element simulations of destructive ground shaking in Catania (Italy)

This study wants to estimate the strong ground motion in the municipal area of Catania (Italy) for a catastrophic earthquake scenario. It is part of a larger research program funded by the National Research Council – National Group for the Defence Against Earthquakes (CNR-GNDT), The Catania Project, devoted to evaluating the seismic risk of a highly urbanised area, such as that of Catania, located in a seismically active region. The reference earthquake simulates the catastrophic event (M 7.2) of 1693. The ground shaking is computed solving the 2-D full-wave equation by the Chebyshev spectral element method (SPEM). Particular emphasis is given to the construction of realistic structural models, also including the finest local detail, obtained from the geophysical, geological and geotechnical data available. Simulations are performed for several sources, to account for both a change in source position and orientation, and the finite extension of the fault along its dip. Synthetic seismograms and peak ground acceleration (PGA) envelopes, calculated at the surface for four transects across the Catania area, constitute the main result of this study which can be used for practical purposes. Simulations show that ground motion is strongly influenced by both source characteristics and crustal structure. We have found that PGA values range between 0.1 g and 0.5 g, although particular site conditions strongly affect these values locally. For example, the frequencies of maximum interest in civil engineering (1.5–4 Hz) are enhanced selectively by a thick portion of surface sediments (i.e., 30–100 m for an average shear wave velocity of 500–600 m/s). An unexpected feature is the appreciable increase of PGA at large epicentral distances, which contradicts classical attenuation relations. All the results are examined through an analysis of the propagating wavefield.     

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.     

2015年尼泊尔Gorkha地震强地面运动记录分析

2015年4月25日在尼泊尔Gorkha地区发生M_W7.8地震,距离发震断层约11 km的KATNP台站完整记录了主震的加速度时程.本文根据KATNP台站记录的加速度数据分析了Gorkha地震的地震动特征.结果表明Gorkha地震在KATNP台站处产生的水平向峰值加速度为0.17 g,竖直向峰值加速度为0.19 g,该数值小于科学家们对如此大规模地震产生的地震动的预期,初步推测这可能是由加德满都山谷产生的非线性响应造成的（Dixit et al.,2015）;地震在KATNP台站处产生了地表永久位移,其中竖向永久位移为131.9 cm,水平向永久位移的绝对值为159.2 cm,方向为南偏西19°（199°）,据此可简单推算出断层走向约为289°（109°）.地震产生了脉冲型地震动,影响因素有盆地效应、地震破裂的向前的方向性效应以及滑冲效应,其中盆地效应的周期约为5 s左右,方向性效应产生的速度脉冲的周期约为8 s左右.加速度反应谱显示在0.5 s和5.0 s左右各有一个峰值,前者是由地震破裂的脉冲式滑移产生的大量高频地震动造成的,后者是由于盆地效应和地震破裂的方向性效应造成的.基于阿里亚斯烈度计算的地震动持时约在36~46 s之间,小于与其规模相当的地震产生的地震动持时,并且不同方向上的地震动持时可能与地震破裂方向有关.阿里亚斯烈度随时间的变化比较简单,也反映了Gorkha地震是一次连续的、能量释放相对简单的地震事件.     

Development of attenuation relation for the near fault ground motion from the characteristic earthquake

A composite source model has been used to simulate a broadband strong ground motion with an associated fault rupture process. A scenario earthquake fault model has been used to generate 1 000 earthquake events with a magni-tude of Mw8.0. The simulated results show that, for the characteristic event with a strike-slip faulting, the character istics of near fault ground motion is strongly dependent on the rupture directivity. If the distance between the sites and fault was given, the ground motion in the forward direction (Site A) is much larger than that in the backward direction (Site C) and that close to the fault (Site B). The SH waves radiated from the fault, which corresponds to the fault-normal component plays a key role in the ground motion amplification. Corresponding to the sites A, B, and C, the statistical analysis shows that the ratio of their aPG is 2.15:1.5:1 and their standard deviations are about 0.12, 0.11, and 0.13, respectively. If these results are applied in the current probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA), then, for the lower annual frequency of exceedance of peak ground acceleration, the predicted aPG from the hazard curve could reduce by 30% or more compared with the current PSHA model used in the developing of seismic hazard map in the USA. Therefore, with a consideration of near fault ground motion caused by the rupture directivity, the regression model used in the development of the regional attenuation relation should be modified accordingly.     

特征地震强地面运动参数衰减公式拟合

计算机仿真模拟设定地震断层动态破裂传播和近断层强地表运动响应的结果表明, 对于特征地震而言,近断层附近的地表运动特征与断层破裂传播的方向性有着强烈的依赖关系. 当场地（观测点）至断层的距离给定时,正向于破裂传播方向的场地（场地A）的地表质点运动（位移、速度、加速度）,远远大于震中附近（场地B）和反向于破裂传播方向的场地（场地C）的地表质点运动,而且沿断层垂直分量所辐射的SH波的传播起到了主导作用. 对应于场地A,B和C,统计分析结果表明,峰值加速度的几何平均值之比为2.15:1.5:1, 而且各自的均方差分别为0.12, 0.11和0.13. 如果将所得的研究结果应用于概率地震危险性分析中,对于较低的年超越频度,近断层附近的地表峰值加速度的估算值可下降15%~30%. 因此,考虑到断层破裂传播方向性对地表运动的影响,区域衰减曲线的回归分析模型应该给予恰当的修正.      

2018年2月6日花莲M_W6.4地震近场地震动方向性效应

利用中国台湾省内222个强震动台站以及Palert地震预警系统520个台站所观测的三分量加速度记录,研究此次花莲M_W6.4地震近场强地震动空间分布和衰减特征,将观测结果与美国NGA-West2地震动经验预测模型进行对比,揭示此次台湾花莲地震近场地震动的长周期特点,基于回归残差分析研究地震动峰值加速度(PGA)、峰值速度(PGV)和不同周期地震动的空间分布差异,定量考察近场地震动的方向性效应.研究结果表明:(1)整体上此次地震的近场PGV观测值和周期1.0s以上的长周期加速度谱值与美国NGA-West2地震动预测模型结果接近,PGA观测值和周期小于1.0s的加速度反应谱略低于预测模型结果.从空间分布来看,周期1.0s以上的长周期地震动在断层的不同方位有系统性差异,在破裂传播前方(震中西南方位),周期大于1.0s时的反应谱明显高于美国NGA-West2地震动经验预测模型,在破裂传播后方(震中东北方位),周期大于1.0s时的反应谱低于经验预测模型,表明此次地震近场地震动具有显著的方向性效应.(2)破裂传播的方向性效应主要影响周期超过1.0s的长周期,而对PGA以及周期小于1.0s的短周期地震动影响较弱.在破裂传播前方,周期1.0～10.0s的加速度反应谱值被增强到整体观测平均水平的1.16～1.52倍;在破裂传播后方,周期1.0～10.0s的加速度反应谱值被减弱到整体观测平均水平的0.36～0.70倍.(3)此次地震破裂方向性效应的影响表现出明显的窄带效应,破裂方向性的影响(包括破裂传播前方的增强作用和破裂传播后方的减弱作用)在周期T=3.0s时达到最大,在该周期破裂传播前方的增强系数为1.52,破裂传播后方的减弱系数为0.36.从周期T=3.0s到10.0s,破裂方向性效应的影响随周期增大总体上呈减弱趋势,这与2016年日本熊本M_W7.0地震破裂方向性效应的影响特点显著不同.     

Modelling of ground acceleration in the near source range: the case of 1976, Friuli earthquake (M = 6.5), northern Italy

A mixed statistical-deterministic model of earthquake rupture is developed for evaluating the strong ground motion in the near source range (receiver distance comparable to the fault length). The source parametrization is based on the k-square model and the propagation is computed by asymptotic Green's functions. The method is applied to the case of 1976, Friuli earthquake (M = 6.5) in northern Italy which occurred on a low-dip thrusting fault. Acceleration records at 29 stations are computed for 100 simulations of rupture histories. The mean value map of peak ground accelerations shows clearly a maximum to the south due to the inner geometry and directivity of the source. The variation of the estimated PGA versus the epicentral distance is strongly dependent on azimuth and is not decreasing monotonically. The comparison of these curves with those predicted by empirical acceleration–distance relationships shows discrepancies in the near source distance range. This study shows the importance of considering the complexity of the source rupture process for strong motion estimate in the near source range.     

Ground Motion Prediction Equations in the San Jacinto Fault Zone: Significant Effects of Rupture Directivity and Fault Zone Amplification

We present a new set of Ground Motion Prediction Equations (GMPEs) for horizontal Peak Ground Acceleration, Peak Ground Velocity, and 5 % damped pseudo-spectral acceleration (PSA), developed for the San Jacinto Fault Zone (SJFZ) area. Besides using these equations to quantify seismic shaking in the area, the results allow us to examine the physics and local properties controlling the observed ground motions. The analyzed dataset includes ~30,000 observations from ~800 events spanning a magnitude range of 1.5 < M < 6.0 and recorded by up to 140 stations at epicentral distances ranging from essentially zero to 150 km. The local GMPE is developed for the SJFZ by applying classical regression techniques with predictive variables that include first distance and magnitude, and then site characteristics, rupture directivity, and fault zone amplification. The significance of these effects is determined by measuring the uncertainty-reduction of the GMPE due to each factor. The results show that, in contrast to many regional studies, traditional site characteristic has a relatively minor effect on peak amplitudes in our study area. However, rupture directivity is a significant factor controlling the amplitudes of ground motion even for small events. The dense seismic network and newly developed directivity tool enable us to extract efficiently directivity effects with statistical significance, using the ground-motion dataset during the regression analysis process. The obtained rupture directivities are consistent with the main focal mechanism orientations and surface trace orientations, known from other studies, and predictions for bimaterial ruptures in the trifurcation area of the SJFZ. Fault zone amplification is a second important factor, showing strong impact on the peak ground motion values, with increasing role for the lower frequency range (<10 Hz) examined in the 5 % damped PSA values. We also observe signatures of large amplitude-variances, which indicate additional source-related control on the distribution of amplitudes (besides rupture directivity) for aftershocks close in time and location to the M _L 5.1 earthquake of March 2013. Using the full set of records we present the most complete set of GMPEs for the SJFZ area, including a higher-amplitude prediction for regions in the direction of rupture.     

Rupture directivity effect on strong ground motion during the 12 May 2008 MW7.9 Wenchuan earthquake

We focus here on the rupture directivity effect on the spatial distribution and attenuation characteristics of near-field ground motions during the 2008 MW7.9 Wenchuan earthquake. We examine the difference between the observed ground motions in and opposite the rupture directions and compare them with Next Generation Attenuation-West2 (NGA-West2) ground motion prediction models. The isochrone directivity predictor is used to quantify the band-limited nature of the rupture directivity effect on strong ground motion. Our results show that the observed peak ground velocity (PGV) and spectral accelerations of periods of 1.0 s and longer are significantly amplified in the rupture direction, but de-amplified in the opposite direction affected by rupture directivity effect of this event. In contrast, the effect of rupture directivity on the observed peak ground acceleration (PGA) and periods of shorter than 1.0 s are relatively weak. The rupture directivity of this event shows clear period dependent and band limited characteristics with the strongest effect occurring around the period of 7.5 s.     

2010年4月14日玉树Ms7.1地震加速度场预测

基于有限断层震源、且使用动力学拐角频率的地震动随机模拟方法预测玉树地震近断层的加速度场.首先,基于有限断层震源建模方法建立该次地震的震源模型;然后,基于上述地震动模拟方法预测玉树地震近断层191个节点的加速度时程.在此基础上,取每个结点的加速度峰值绘制该次地震的近断层加速度场.结果表明:(1)近断层加速度场主要受震源破裂过程和断层面上滑动分布的影响.断层面上凹凸体投影到地表的区域附近,加速度峰值最大,也是震害最严重的区域;(2)对于走滑地震,断层沿线附近的场地并非均会发生破裂方向性效应;发生破裂方向性效应的场地与凹凸体在断层面上的位置有关.     

芦山地震地震动上下盘效应研究

2013年4月20日的芦山7.0级地震是继2008年5月12日汶川8.0级特大地震之后,发生在龙门山断裂带上的又一次大震级逆冲型地震.与汶川地震相比,芦山地震的发震断层没有地表出露,断层的滑动角更大,其逆冲性质更强烈.本文挑选了芦山地震中断层距小于200km的45条强震动记录,基于地震动衰减关系进行统计分析,对比了上盘和下盘台站地震动参数相对于衰减关系的对数残差.结果表明：芦山地震的上下盘效应明显,近断层上盘地震动的高频成分要高于同断层距的下盘;上盘地震动衰减要明显快于下盘.地震动衰减关系用简单的一个距离参数很难描述近场断层尺寸效应的影响,也很难模拟地震动上下盘效应.因此,在近场强地面运动模拟中,应多考虑有限断层模型,以模拟断层的尺寸效应.     

Characteristics of amplitude and duration for near fault strong ground motion from the 1999 Chi-Chi, Taiwan Earthquake

A great number of free-field ground motion records are obtained during the 1999 Chi-Chi, Taiwan, earthquake. Records from 130 near fault free-field stations within 55 km to the causative fault surface are used as database, and characteristics of earthquake peak ground acceleration, velocity, displacement and duration are analyzed. According to this study, near fault ground motions are strongly affected by distance to fault, fault rupture directivity, site condition, as well as thrust of hanging wall. Compared with empirical strong ground motion attenuation relations used in China, US and Japan, the PGAs and PGVs recorded in this earthquake are not as large as what we have expected for a large earthquake as magnitude 7.6. However, the largest PGV and PGD worldwide were recorded in this event, which are 292 cm/s and 867 cm, respectively. Caused by nonlinear site effects of soil, peaks and corresponding ratios on E-class site were markedly different from those on other sites. Just as observed in historic earthquakes, fault rupture directivity effects caused significant differences between peaks of ground motion of two horizontal components, but took very slight effects on the duration of ground motion. The significant velocity pulses associated with large PGVs and PGDs, as well as large permanent displacements, which may result from the large thrust of the hanging wall, became the outstanding character of this event. Based on this study, we point out that 3D waveform modeling is needed to understand and predict near fault ground motion of large earthquakes.     

The 1986 Dharamsala earthquake of Himachal Himalaya – estimates of source parameters,average intrinsic attenuation and site amplification functions

The 26th April 1986 Dharamsala earthquake (m_b 5.5) occurred in the Kangra region of Himachal Himalaya, which lies in the rupture zone of great Kangra earthquake of 1905. This was the first moderate sized earthquake to be recorded at a few sites of the strong ground motion array in the NW Himalaya. The accelerograms of this earthquake have been used to estimate its source parameters, site amplification functions and to estimate the effective shear wave attenuation factor Q_β in the frontal region of Himachal Himalaya. A double couple fault plane solution for the earthquake has been obtained based on the spectra of the transverse component of the accelerograms. The estimated values of the source parameters are seismic moment: 2.1×10²⁴ dyne-cm, static stress drop (Δσ): 36 bars, source radius (r): 2.8 km and moment magnitude (M_w): 5.4. The estimated average values of effective shear wave attenuation factor Q_β for various sites are in the range of 125 to 300 with an overall spatial average of 239. The influence of local site effects on the observed PGA values have been examined on the basis of site amplification functions.     

震源破裂方式和断层性质对近场强地震动特征的影响

基于数值格林函数法的近场强地震动数值模拟方法,以1994年Northridge地震断层面上位错量的不均匀分布模式和该地区的地层剪切波速度结构为震源模型和计算模型,做了两个方面的模拟研究:(1)直立走滑断层(断层倾角为90°)情况下,模拟分析了有限断层单侧破裂模式和双侧破裂模式对强地震动特征——破裂方向性和上盘效应的影响;(2)对于倾斜断层(倾角为45°),模拟分析了正断层、逆断层和走滑断层情况下,单侧破裂模式对其强地震动主要特征——破裂方向性效应和上盘效应的影响.结果表明:断层的破裂方式直接影响着地表地震动峰值和矢量分布;在近场区无论直立断层还是倾斜断层,其地表地震动峰值分布所表达的破裂方向性效应显著,位于破裂传播前方的地震动强度大,反映了波前被压缩的趋势,破裂后方地震强度明显变小;倾斜断层引起的上盘效应明显,NS向分量和竖向分量的地表地震动峰值的最大值出现在上盘靠近断层迹线处,EW向分量的峰值在断层迹线两侧呈不对称分布,且逆断层引起的地震动峰值最大,走滑断层的次之,正断层的最小.     

Effect of seismic super-shear rupture on the directivity of ground motion acceleration

The effect of seismic super-shear rupture on the directivity of ground motions using simulated accelerations of a vertical strike-slip fault model is the topic of this study. The discrete wave number/finite element method was adopted to calculate the ground motion in the horizontal layered half space. An analysis of peak ground acceleration （PGA） indicates that similar to the sub-shear situation, directivity also exists in the super-shear situation. However, there are some differences as tbllows： （1） The PGA of the fault-normal component decreases with super-shear velocity, and the areas that were significantly affected by directivity in the PGA field changed from a cone-shaped region in the forward direction in a sub-shear situation to a limited near-fault region in a super-shear situation. （2） The PGA of the fault-parallel and vertical component is not as sensitive as the fault-normal component to the increasing super-shear velocity. （3） The PGA of the fault-normal component is not always greater than the fault-parallel component when the rupture velocity exceeds the shear wave velocity.     

鲁甸地震强震动记录与地震动衰减模型的对比研究

利用2014年鲁甸M_S6.5地震断层距小于300 km的32个自由场地观测台站的地震动加速度记录,分析了地震动峰值加速度(PGA)和峰值速度(PGV)的空间分布特征,并对已有地震动衰减模型中的NGA-West2四个模型和1个中国川藏区模型进行了比较分析.研究表明,地震动PGA和PGV衰减最快的方向与断层主破裂方向一致.在整个断层距(R_rup)范围内大多数台站的地震动PGA、PGV和加速度反应谱值(Sa(T=0.1、5.0 s))均位于NGA-West2四个模型预测曲线的±1倍标准差之外.PGA、PGV和Sa(T=5.0 s)的事件内残差均值在-1.43～-0.74之间.Sa(T=0.01～5.0 s)事件内残差均值在整个距离范围内均表现出系统性偏负.NGA-West2四个模型的PGA事件内残差的空间分布特征相似,其最大正值和最大负值分布区域的震源-场地方位角约为-90°和90°,与主破裂断层方向垂直,所处地势较为平坦且台站场地V_S30相对较大.NGA-West2四个模型总体上会较大地高估鲁甸地震整个断层距范围内各个周期尤...     

考虑震源破裂方向的地震动衰减模型

本文基于Haskell的3源辐射谱模型,加上介质非弹性吸收项,几何扩散项和自由面放大效应,推演出峰值加速度和均方根加速度表达式。据此,建议一种考虑震源破裂方向的地震动衰减模型。用Morgan Hill和Imperial Valley两地震的峰值加速度资料,单震级统计分析结果表明,文中建议的地震动衰减模型是合理的。与Joyner和Boore所用的衰减模型相比较,剩余标准差可减少0.1——0.2。本文所考虑的震源破裂的地震动衰减模型,可分别用于不同断层类型的地震,如单侧和双侧走滑型地震及倾滑型地震,分别建立地震动衰减关系,进行地震危险性分析。文章最后给出了美国西部考虑震源破裂方向的地震动峰值加速度和均方根加速度的衰减关系。      

Evidence of significant forward rupture directivity aggravated by soil response in an Mw6 earthquake and the effects on monuments

While strong directivity effects have been mostly recognized in M_w > 6.5 earthquakes, the paper investigates the case of a strong such effect in a relatively small‐magnitude event on 3 February 2014 in the island of Cephalonia, Greece. The second of two events (both of M_w ≈ 6) produced a pernicious accelerogram in the region's main town, Lixouri. The paper provides evidence from geology, interferometry, and seismology to convince that the motion was the result of constructive interference in front of the direction of rupture of the obliquely‐strike‐slip fault. The nature of the record is explored to demonstrate that its frequency content, its high velocity pulse, and its strong fault‐normal (FN) favorable polarity are associated with directivity. Moreover, the broad spectral acceleration peak (of 1.7 g) of the FN motion, centered at a period (T ≈ 1.4 s) which almost coincides with the period of the velocity pulse, is shown to have also been affected by soil amplification, in quantitative agreement with Bray et al. (2009). Such a directivity‐and‐soil‐affected motion explains much of the profound damage to monuments, slopes, and harbor quaywalls. In particular, toppling (as well as excessive rotation and sliding) of nearly‐all the tombstones in Lixouri cemetery are shown to correlate well with characteristics of the FN component of motion. By contrast, the excellent performance of the building stock — despite the destructive shaking that prevailed — is persuasively attributed to conservatively‐robust construction practices of the past and the high base shear coefficient of the strict latest (2000) seismic code. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sediment non-linearity and attenuation of seismic waves: a study of accelerograms from Lefkas, western Greece

We investigate the dependence of the S-wave high-frequency spectral-decay parameter, κ (“kappa”) — a measure of wave attenuation — on ground-motion amplitude. 21 three-component accelerograms from two adjacent sediment sites in the town of Lefkas, western Greece, are used, representing 17 earthquakes with magnitudes M_w 4.7–7.0 and hypocentral distances 12–93 km. Recorded peak horizontal ground accelerations (PGA) and velocities (PGV) are 22–540 cm/s² and 1.3–54.5 cm/s.Fourier amplitude spectra are computed for S-wave windows, and the frequency range is visually determined where the high-frequency spectral decay can be approximated by a straight line on the linear-log plot; its slope (and hence κ) is computed by linear regression. κ is found to depend on hypocentral distance as κ=0.108+0.058R (r=0.518).As PGV increases from 1.3 to 54.5 cm/s, κ₀ (κ at 0 km, characterising inelastic attenuation in the site's subsurface geology) varies between 0.060 and 0.160 s. κ₀ is found to correlate very strongly with log MGA (r=0.645) (MGA — mean horizontal acceleration in the S-wave window) but also with log PGA (r=0.447) and log PGV (r=0.627). We attribute this behaviour to sediment non-linearity (shear-modulus degradation), resulting in the decrease of the site's dominant-resonance frequency (from about 3.5 to 2.4 Hz) and leading to the increase of κ₀. Our results imply that at sediment sites, an important contribution to κ comes from wave attenuation (damping) in the softest sediments and show that κ₀ is amplitude dependent, thus being a measure of sediment non-linearity.