scholarly journals Fast and Robust Earthquake Source Spectra and Moment Magnitudes from Envelope Inversion

Author(s):  
Tom Eulenfeld ◽  
Torsten Dahm ◽  
Sebastian Heimann ◽  
Ulrich Wegler

ABSTRACT With the present study, we introduce a fast and robust method to calculate the source displacement spectra of small earthquakes on a local to regional scale. The work is based on the publicly available Qopen method of full envelope inversion, which is further tuned for the given purpose. Important source parameters—seismic moment, moment magnitude, corner frequency, and high-frequency fall off—are determined from the source spectra by fitting a simple earthquake source model. The method is demonstrated by means of a data set comprising the 2018 West Bohemia earthquake swarm. We report moment magnitudes, corner frequencies, and centroid moment tensors inverted from short-period body waves with the Grond package for all earthquakes with a local magnitude larger than 1.8. Moment magnitudes calculated by envelope inversion show a very good agreement to moment magnitudes resulting from the probabilisitc moment tensor inversion. Furthermore, source displacement spectra from envelope inversion show a good agreement with spectra obtained by multiple taper analysis of the direct onsets of body waves but are not affected by the large scatter of the second. The seismic moments obtained with the envelope inversion scale with corner frequencies according to M0∝fc−4.7. Earthquakes of the present data set result in a smaller stress drop for smaller magnitudes. Self-similarity of earthquake rupture is not observed. In addition, we report frequency-dependent site amplification at the used stations.

2020 ◽  
Vol 110 (6) ◽  
pp. 3139-3157
Author(s):  
Dino Bindi ◽  
Daniele Spallarossa ◽  
Matteo Picozzi ◽  
Paola Morasca

ABSTRACT We apply a spectral decomposition approach to isolate the source spectra from propagation and site effects and, in turn, to estimate the source parameters of small-to-moderate earthquakes that occurred in central Italy. The data set is composed of about 400,000 waveforms relevant to 4111 earthquakes in the moment magnitude range 1.5–6.5, recorded by a high-density network of stations installed in the study area. We first investigate the reliability of the source parameters for small magnitudes through numerical simulations. We generate synthetic spectra for different source scaling models and near-surface attenuation effects, considering the source–station geometry and the data availability of the central Italy data set. Our analysis with synthetics shows that the spectral decomposition is effective in isolating the source contributions from other factors. Moreover, the analysis of the residual distributions suggests that moment magnitude 1.8 is the lower bound for the retrieval of reliable Brune’s source parameters, although we observe an increase of residual’s variability below magnitude 3, and the estimated source parameters could be biased below magnitude 2.3. Remarkably, the assessment of the stress drop Δσ for small events is strongly hampered by site-specific attenuation near the surface. In view of the results with synthetics, we analyze the source parameters of earthquakes recorded in central Italy. The corner frequency versus seismic moment relationship describes a source scaling in which Δσ increases with increasing moment magnitude Mw, the mean Δσ varying from 0.1 MPa for Mw<2 to 7.9 MPa for Mw>5. In particular, Δσ increases mainly for Mw in the ranges 2.5–3 and 4.5–5.2. The corner frequencies estimated from the apparent source spectra do not show any dependence on hypocentral distance and magnitude, confirming that uncorrected anelastic attenuation effects do not significantly bias the results.


1981 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 1173-1190
Author(s):  
Arthur Frankel

abstract The seismic moments and stress drops of 23 earthquakes (1.1 ≦ M ≦ 2.4) that occurred during an earthquake swarm in the Virgin Islands were determined from the analysis of their P waveforms. The data consist of digitally recorded seismograms collected by a short-period seismic network operating in the northeastern Caribbean. The events of the swarm are particularly useful for comparing the relative stress drops of small earthquakes, because their source to receiver paths and focal mechanisms are very similar. The static stress drops calculated for these earthquakes varied from about 0.2 to 2 bars. The data clearly illustrate that the static and dynamic stress drops of these earthquakes generally increased with the size (moment) of the events. The fault radii for these shocks increased with seismic moment, but only by a factor of 2 for a 100-fold increase in seismic moment. The velocity waveforms of the larger events were systematically more impulsive than those of the smaller earthquakes. These observations imply that, for this set of earthquakes, the final fault radius is a function of the stress drop that occurs during the rupture process.


2020 ◽  
Vol 223 (1) ◽  
pp. 233-253
Author(s):  
X Chen ◽  
R E Abercrombie

SUMMARY We calculate source parameters for fluid-injection induced earthquakes near Guthrie, Oklahoma, guided by synthetic tests to quantify uncertainties. The average stress drop during an earthquake is a parameter fundamental to ground motion prediction and earthquake source physics, but it has proved hard to measure accurately. This has limited our understanding of earthquake rupture, as well as the spatio-temporal variations of fault strength. We use synthetic tests based on a joint spectral-fitting method to define the resolution limit of the corner frequency as a function of the maximum frequency of usable signal, for both individual spectra and the average from multiple stations. Synthetic tests based on stacking analysis find that an improved stacking approach can recover the true input stress drop if the corner frequencies are within the resolution limit defined by joint spectral-fitting. We apply the improved approach to the Guthrie sequence, using different wave types and signal-to-noise criteria to understand the stability of the calculated stress drop values. The results suggest no systematic scaling relationship of stress drop for M ≤ 3.1 earthquakes, but larger events (M ≥ 3.5) tend to have higher average stress drops. Some robust spatio-temporal variations can be linked to the triggering processes and indicate possible stress heterogeneity within the fault zone. Tight clustering of low stress drop events at the beginning stage of the sequence suggests that pore pressure influences earthquake source processes. Events at shallow depth have lower stress drop compared to deeper events. The largest earthquake occurred within a cluster of high stress drop events, likely rupturing a strong asperity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 224 (3) ◽  
pp. 1793-1810
Author(s):  
Ittai Kurzon ◽  
Vladimir Lyakhovsky ◽  
Yehuda Ben-Zion

SUMMARY We present results on earthquake source properties using simulations of dynamic rupture and radiated seismic waves in a continuum damage-breakage rheological model. The source properties are derived by (1) calculation of source parameters directly from the simulated ruptures and (2) observational processing of the far-field radiated waves. The seismic potency, moment, damage-related source term, rupture velocity and effective rigidity are estimated directly from the simulated sources, while the radiation pattern, dominant frequency, directivity, rupture velocity and seismic potency are calculated through analysis of the radiated waves. The potencies calculated directly from the sources are used to validate those estimated by wave analysis. The effective rigidity at the rupture zone during failure is about four times smaller than that of the intact surrounding rocks. Rupture velocity can be estimated by far-field measurements for sources with unidirectional ruptures with prominent rupture directivity. The dominant frequencies for P and S waves $f_d^S/f_d^P$ reflect clearly the rupture duration and have a ratio in the range 0.87–1.12. Seismic potencies obtained through processing the P or S waves have an overall ±15 per cent difference from the source reference values. The calculated values of the coefficient ${\rm{\kappa }}$, relating rupture length to corner or dominant frequency, have strong dependency on the source geometry. Using a strain-rate dependent ${\rm{\kappa }}$, we obtain much weaker dependencies of strain-drop on the dominant frequencies, $\Delta {\rm{\varepsilon }} \propto {( {{f_d}} )^{3/4}}$, than the classical cube-dependency between stress drop and corner frequency, and corresponding weak dependency of average slip on dominant frequency, ${\rm{\bar{D}}} \propto {( {{f_d}} )^{1/2}}$. The obtained analysis procedure and relations can be used to reduce the uncertainty of source properties derived from far-field seismic waves.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenzheng Gong ◽  
Xiaofei Chen

<p>Spectra analysis is helpful to understand earthquake rupture processes and estimate source parameters like stress drop. Obtaining real source spectra and source time function isn’t easy, because the station recordings contain path effect and we usually can’t get precise path information. Empirical Green’s function (EGF) method is a popular way to cancel out the path effect, main two of which are the stacking spectra method (Prieto et al, 2006) and the spectral ratio method (Viegas et al, 2010; Imanishi et al, 2006). In our study, we apply the latter with multitaper spectral analysis method (Prieto et al, 2009) to calculate relative source spectra and relative source time function. Target event and EGFs must have similar focal mechanism and be collocated, so we combine correlation coefficient of wave at all stations and focal mechanism similarity to select proper EGFs.</p><p>The Bucaramanga nest has very high seismicity, so it’s suitable to calculate source spectra by using EGF method. We calculate the source spectra and source time function of about 1540 earthquakes (3-5.7ml, 135-160km depth) at Bucaramanga nest in Colombia. Simultaneously we also estimate corner frequency by fitting spectral source model (Brune, 1970; Boatwright, 1980) and stress drop using simple model (Eshelby, 1957) of earthquakes with multiple station recordings or EGFs. We obtain about 30000 events data with 12 stations from National Seismological Network of Colombia (RSNC).</p><p>The result show that the source spectra of most earthquakes fitted well by omega-square model are smooth, and the source spectra of some have obvious ‘holes’ near corner frequency, and the source time function of a few earthquakes appear two separate peeks. The first kind of earthquakes are style of self-arresting ruptures (Xu et al. 2015), which can be autonomously arrested by itself without any outside interference. Abercrombie (2014) and Wen et al. (2018) both researched the second kind of earthquakes and Wen think that this kind of earthquakes are style of the runaway ruptures including subshear and supershear ruptures. The last kind of earthquakes maybe be caused by simultaneous slip on two close rupture zone. Stress drop appear to slightly increase with depth and are very high (assuming rupture velocity/s wave velocity is 0.9). We also investigate the high-frequency falloff n, usually 2, of Brune model and Boatwright model by fitting all spectra, and find that the best value of n for Boatwright model is 2 and for Brune model is 3.5.</p>


1987 ◽  
Vol 77 (5) ◽  
pp. 1558-1578
Author(s):  
Kristín S. Vogfjörd ◽  
Charles A. Langston

Abstract Average source parameters of the 1968 Meckering, Australia earthquake are obtained by the inversion of body waves. The objectives of the inversion are the elements of the moment tensor and the source-time history. An optimum source depth of 3 km is determined, but because of source complexity the point source assumption fails and the moment tensor obtained at that depth has a large nondouble-couple term, compensated linear vector dipole = 34 per cent. The source parameters of the major double-couple are: strike = 341°; dip = 37°; rake = 61°; and seismic moment = 8.2 ×1025 dyne-cm. The source-time function is of approximately 4 sec duration, with a long rise time and a sharp fall-off. The fault length is constrained on the surface by the observed surface break, and results from vertical displacement modeling suggest a width of approximately 10 km in the middle, assuming a dip of 37°. That restricts the entire faulted area to lie above 6 km depth. Two finite fault models for the earthquake are presented, with rupture initiating at a point (1) near the top of the fault and (2) at the bottom of the fault. Both models produce similar long-period synthetics, but based on the short-period waveforms, model 1 is favored. It is argued that such a rupture process is the most reasonable in this cold shield region.


1983 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 1321-1343
Author(s):  
Frank Scherbaum ◽  
Dieter Stoll

Abstract The 3 September 1978, Swabian Jura (southwest Germany) earthquake (MWA = 5.7) was followed by a large number of aftershocks which have been recorded with a local network of five portable seismic stations. The seismic moments, fault radii, and the static stress drops have been determined from the SH displacement spectra using the Brune (1970) source model. The data set is consistent with the Gutenberg-Richter energy-magnitude relation. Below a Wood-Anderson magnitude of about 4, the corner frequencies increase only slowly with decreasing magnitudes. No corner frequency higher than 15 Hz has been observed in the magnitude range down to 0.8. Correspondingly, the high-frequency decay slopes show a strong increase when the corner frequencies are approaching the maximum frequency. This prevents the use of slope data for Q determinations. In terms of the Madariaga (1977) crack model, the data show a strong influence of source complexities on the smaller events.


1981 ◽  
Vol 71 (5) ◽  
pp. 1423-1444
Author(s):  
Jeffrey S. Barker ◽  
Charles A. Langston

abstract Seismograms from WWSSN and Canadian network stations were modeled to determine the source parameters of the 20 June 1978 Thessaloniki, Greece, earthquake (Ms = 6.4). The depth of the initial rupture was constrained to 11 ± 1 km by comparison of the arrival times of surface reflections with synthetic short-period seismograms. A focal sphere plot of first motion polarities provided little constraint on other focal parameters, except to indicate that predominantly normal faulting was involved. A generalized inverse technique utilizing the moment tensor formalism was applied to teleseismic P and SH waves for six increments of depth. The moment tensor obtained indicated a nearly horizontal, N-trending tension axis and a nearly vertical compression axis, and yielded the following double-couple source parameters: strike 280° ± 7°; dip 55° ± 3°; rake −65° ± 5°; seismic moment 5.7 × 1025 dyne-cm; and a skewed triangular source time function with a rise time of about 1 sec and duration of 6 to 8 sec. Due to indications of multiple or finite source effects for this event, and the assumption in the moment tensor formalism of a point source, a low-pass filter was applied to the data and the inversions were repeated. The results were nearly identical with those of the original inversion, suggesting that any individual sources had similar mechanisms, or that the point source model is sufficient for this earthquake.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eser Çakti ◽  
Fatma Sevil Malcioğlu ◽  
Hakan Süleyman

<p>On 24<sup>th</sup> and 26<sup>th</sup>  September 2019, two earthquakes of M<sub>w</sub>=4.5 and M<sub>w</sub>=5.6 respectively took place in the Marmara Sea. They were associated with the Central Marmara segment of the North Anatolian Fault Zone, which is pinpointed by several investigators as the most likely segment to rupture in the near future giving way to an earthquake larger than M7.0. Both events were felt widely in the region. The M<sub>w</sub>=5.6 event, in particular, led to a number of building damages in Istanbul, which were larger than expected in number and severity. There are several strong motion networks in operation in and around Istanbul. We have compiled a data set of recordings obtained at the stations of the Istanbul Earthquake Rapid Response and Early Warning operated by the Department of Earthquake Engineering of Bogazici University and of the National Strong Motion Network operated by AFAD. It consists of 148 three component recordings, in total.  444 records in the data set, after correction, were analyzed to estimate the source parameters of these events, such as corner frequency, source duration, radius and rupture area, average source dislocation and stress drop. Duration characteristics of two earthquakes were analyzed first by considering P-wave and S-wave onsets and then, focusing on S-wave and significant durations. PGAs, PGVs and SAs were calculated and compared with three commonly used ground motion prediction models (i.e  Boore et al., 2014; Akkar et al., 2014 and Kale et al., 2015). Finally frequency-dependent Q models were estimated using the data set and their validity was dicussed by comparing with previously developed models.</p>


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