High-frequency seismic wave propagation within the heterogeneous crust: effects of seismic scattering and intrinsic attenuation on ground motion modelling

Abstract

For practical modelling of high-frequency (>1 Hz) seismic wave propagation, we analysed the apparent radiation patterns and attenuations of P and S waves using observed Hi-net velocity seismograms for small-to-moderate crustal earthquakes in the Chugoku region, southwestern Japan. By comparing observed and simulated seismograms, we estimated practical parameter sets of crustal small-scale velocity heterogeneity and intrinsic attenuations of P and S waves (QP.int−1 and QS.int−1). Numerical simulations of seismic wave propagation were conducted via the finite-difference method using a 1-D crustal velocity structure model with additional 3-D small-scale velocity heterogeneity and intrinsic attenuation. The estimated crustal small-scale velocity heterogeneity is stochastically characterized by an exponential-type power spectral density function with correlation length of 1 km and root-mean-square value of 0.03. Estimated QP.int−1 and QS.int−1 values range from 10−2.6 to 10−2.0 and 10−2.8 to 10−2.4, respectively, indicating QP.int−1 > QS.int−1 for high frequencies (>1 Hz). Intrinsic attenuation dominates over scattering attenuation, which is caused by small-scale velocity heterogeneity. The crustal parameters obtained in this study are useful for evaluating peak ground velocities and coda envelopes for moderate crustal earthquakes via physical-based simulations using a 3-D heterogeneous structure model.