On the frequency contents of local events: source or path effect?

Local events which occurred in the Timanfaya volcanic field are analysed and their spectral contents are interpreted as being due to the effect of a finely layered medium with large impedance contrast, the presence of which is well known from well-logging data. By considering the layered medium as a filter, its spectral response (amplitude and phase) is computed from different randomly generated values of its parameters (total thickness, mean thickness of the individual layers and impedance contrast), showing that this stratigraphic filter acts as a low-pass filter. This effect can be correctly modelled by means of an exponential correlation function. However, in some cases resonant peaks appear in the spectrum superimposed on the low-pass filter effect, which can only be attributed to resonant scattering. An analysis of the phase and group delay associated with the amplitudes is made and strongly suggests that it is necessary to incorporate the theory of resonant scattering for the retrieval of medium properties. From the point of view of the amplitudes, the superposition of both effects, low-pass filter and resonant peaks, allows us to reproduce the gross features that are usually attributed to source effects. The need for a careful analysis of the local site response previous to any interpretation of the spectral features in terms of source characteristics is thus emphasized.