|
|
||||||||
U.S. Geological Survey, 525 South Wilson Avenue, Pasadena, California 91106
Woodward-Clyde Federal Services, El Dorado Street, Pasadena, California 91101
Abstract
Using strong-motion data recorded in the Los Angeles region from the 1992 (Mw 7.3) Landers earthquake, we have tested the accuracy of existing three-dimensional (3D) velocity models on the simulation of long-period (
2 sec) ground motions in the Los Angeles basin and surrounding San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys. First, the overall pattern and degree of long-period excitation of the basins were identified in the observations. Within the Los Angeles basin, the recorded amplitudes are about three to four times larger than at sites outside the basins; amplitudes within the San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys are nearly a factor of 3 greater than surrounding bedrock sites. Then, using a 3D finite-difference numerical modeling approach, we analyzed how variations in 3D earth structure affect simulated waveforms, amplitudes, and the fit to the observed patterns of amplification. Significant differences exist in the 3D velocity models of southern California that we tested (Magistrale et al., 1996; Graves, 1996a; Hauksson and Haase, 1997). Major differences in the models include the velocity of the assumed background models; the depth of the Los Angeles basin; and the depth, location, and geometry of smaller basins. The largest disparities in the response of the models are seen for the San Fernando Valley and the deepest portion of the Los Angeles basin. These arise in large part from variations in the structure of the basins, particularly the effective depth extent, which is mainly due to alternative assumptions about the nature of the basin sediment fill. The general ground-motion characteristics are matched by the 3D model simulations, validating the use of 3D modeling with geologically based velocity-structure models. However, significant shortcomings exist in the overall patterns of amplification and the duration of the long-period response. The successes and limitations of the models for reproducing the recorded ground motions as discussed provide the basis and direction for necessary improvements to earth structure models, whether geologically or tomographically derived. The differences in the response of the earth models tested also translate to variable success in the ability to successfully model the data and add uncertainty to estimates of the basin response given input "scenario" earthquake source models.
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
A. Rodgers, N. A. Petersson, S. Nilsson, B. Sjogreen, and K. McCandless Broadband Waveform Modeling of Moderate Earthquakes in the San Francisco Bay Area and Preliminary Assessment of the USGS 3D Seismic Velocity Model Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, April 1, 2008; 98(2): 969 - 988. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
B. T. Aagaard, T. M. Brocher, D. Dolenc, D. Dreger, R. W. Graves, S. Harmsen, S. Hartzell, S. Larsen, and M. L. Zoback Ground-Motion Modeling of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, Part I: Validation Using the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, April 1, 2008; 98(2): 989 - 1011. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S.-J. Lee, H.-W. Chen, Q. Liu, D. Komatitsch, B.-S. Huang, and J. Tromp Three-Dimensional Simulations of Seismic-Wave Propagation in the Taipei Basin with Realistic Topography Based upon the Spectral-Element Method Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, February 1, 2008; 98(1): 253 - 264. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. M. Snelson, T. M. Brocher, K. C. Miller, T. L. Pratt, and A. M. Trehu Seismic Amplification within the Seattle Basin, Washington State: Insights from SHIPS Seismic Tomography Experiments Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, October 1, 2007; 97(5): 1432 - 1448. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. K. McPhee, V. E. Langenheim, S. Hartzell, R. J. McLaughlin, B. T. Aagaard, R. C. Jachens, and C. McCabe Basin Structure beneath the Santa Rosa Plain, Northern California: Implications for Damage Caused by the 1969 Santa Rosa and 1906 San Francisco Earthquakes Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, October 1, 2007; 97(5): 1449 - 1457. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. Chen, L. Zhao, and T. H. Jordan Full 3D Tomography for the Crustal Structure of the Los Angeles Region Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, August 1, 2007; 97(4): 1094 - 1120. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. Pujol, K. Mueller, P. Shen, and V. Chitupolu High-Resolution 3D P-Wave Velocity Model for the East Ventura-San Fernando Basin, California, and Relocation of Events in the Northridge and San Fernando Aftershock Sequences Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, December 1, 2006; 96(6): 2269 - 2280. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
T. L. Pratt and T. M. Brocher Site Response and Attenuation in the Puget Lowland, Washington State Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, April 1, 2006; 96(2): 536 - 552. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
K. B. Olsen, A. Akinci, A. Rovelli, F. Marra, and L. Malagnini 3D Ground-Motion Estimation in Rome, Italy Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, February 1, 2006; 96(1): 133 - 146. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L. Zhao, T. H. Jordan, K. B. Olsen, and P. Chen Frechet Kernels for Imaging Regional Earth Structure Based on Three-Dimensional Reference Models Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, December 1, 2005; 95(6): 2066 - 2080. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
T. M. Brocher A Regional View of Urban Sedimentary Basins in Northern California Based on Oil Industry Compressional-Wave Velocity and Density Logs Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, December 1, 2005; 95(6): 2093 - 2114. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. B. Fletcher and K.-L. Wen Strong Ground Motion in the Taipei Basin from the 1999 Chi-Chi, Taiwan, Earthquake Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, August 1, 2005; 95(4): 1428 - 1446. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. Hartzell, M. Guatteri, P. M. Mai, P.-C. Liu, and M. Fisk Calculation of Broadband Time Histories of Ground Motion, Part II: Kinematic and Dynamic Modeling Using Theoretical Green's Functions and Comparison with the 1994 Northridge Earthquake Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, April 1, 2005; 95(2): 614 - 645. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. Komatitsch, Q. Liu, J. Tromp, P. Suss, C. Stidham, and J. H. Shaw Simulations of Ground Motion in the Los Angeles Basin Based upon the Spectral-Element Method Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, February 1, 2004; 94(1): 187 - 206. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
Empirical Corrections for Basin Effects in Stochastic Ground-Motion Prediction, Based on the Los Angeles Basin Analysis Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, August 1, 2003; 93(4): 1679 - 1690. |
||||
![]() |
Amplification of Seismic Waves by the Seattle Basin, Washington State Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, April 1, 2003; 93(2): 533 - 545. |
||||
![]() |
Estimation of Q for Long-Period (>2 sec) Waves in the Los Angeles Basin Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, April 1, 2003; 93(2): 627 - 638. |
||||
![]() |
Site Response, Shallow Shear-Wave Velocity, and Wave Propagation at the San Jose, California, Dense Seismic Array Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, February 1, 2003; 93(1): 443 - 464. |
||||
![]() |
The Effect of Shallow San Francisco Bay Sediments on Waveforms Recorded during the MW 4.6 Bolinas, California, Earthquake Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, February 1, 2003; 93(1): 465 - 479. |
||||
![]() |
3D Heterogeneous Staggered-Grid Finite-Difference Modeling of Seismic Motion with Volume Harmonic and Arithmetic Averaging of Elastic Moduli and Densities Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, December 1, 2002; 92(8): 3042 - 3066. |
||||
![]() |
Equivalent Medium Parameters for Numerical Modeling in Media with Near-Surface Low Velocities Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, March 1, 2002; 92(2): 711 - 722. |
||||
![]() |
Three-Dimensional Finite-Difference Waveform Modeling of Strong Motions Observed in the Sendai Basin, Japan Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, August 1, 2001; 91(4): 812 - 825. |
||||
![]() |
Memory-Efficient Simulation of Anelastic Wave Propagation Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, June 1, 2001; 91(3): 520 - 531. |
||||
![]() |
A Reciprocity Method for Multiple-Source Simulations Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, June 1, 2001; 91(3): 553 - 560. |
||||
![]() |
Accuracy of the Explicit Planar Free-Surface Boundary Condition Implemented in a Fourth-Order Staggered-Grid Velocity-Stress Finite-Difference Scheme Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, June 1, 2001; 91(3): 617 - 623. |
||||
![]() |
Crustal structure and tectonics from the Los Angeles basin to the Mojave Desert, southern California Geology, January 1, 2001; 29(1): 15 - 18. |
||||
![]() |
E. H. Field and the SCEC Phase III Working Group Accounting for Site Effects in Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analyses of Southern California: Overview of the SCEC Phase III Report Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, December 1, 2000; 90(6B): S1 - S31. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
H. Magistrale, S. Day, R. W. Clayton, and R. Graves The SCEC Southern California Reference Three-Dimensional Seismic Velocity Model Version 2 Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, December 1, 2000; 90(6B): S65 - S76. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. H. Steidl Site Response in Southern California for Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, December 1, 2000; 90(6B): S149 - S169. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
Basin Structure Estimation by Waveform Modeling: Forward and Inverse Methods Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, August 1, 2000; 90(4): 964 - 976. |
||||
![]() |
3D Fourth-Order Staggered-Grid Finite-Difference Schemes: Stability and Grid Dispersion Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, June 1, 2000; 90(3): 587 - 603. |
||||
![]() |
3D Viscoelastic Wave Propagation in the Upper Borrego Valley, California, Constrained by Borehole and Surface Data Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, February 1, 2000; 90(1): 134 - 150. |
||||
![]() |
S. Hartzell, S. Harmsen, A. Frankel, and S. Larsen Calculation of broadband time histories of ground motion: Comparison of methods and validation using strong-ground motion from the 1994 Northridge earthquake Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, December 1, 1999; 89(6): 1484 - 1504. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. W. Scrivner and D. V. Helmberger Finite-difference modeling of two aftershocks of the 1994 Northridge, California, earthquake Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, December 1, 1999; 89(6): 1505 - 1518. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. Stidham, M. Antolik, D. Dreger, S. Larsen, and B. Romanowicz Three-dimensional structure influences on the strong-motion wavefield of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, October 1, 1999; 89(5): 1184 - 1202. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
T. Sato, R. W. Graves, and P. G. Somerville Three-dimensional finite-difference simulations of long-period strong motions in the Tokyo metropolitan area during the 1990 Odawara earthquake (MJ 5.1) and the great 1923 Kanto earthquake (MS 8.2) in Japan Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, June 1, 1999; 89(3): 579 - 607. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. W. Scrivner and D. V. Helmberger Variability of ground motions in southern California--data from the 1995 to 1996 Ridgecrest sequence Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, June 1, 1999; 89(3): 626 - 639. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. Pitarka 3D Elastic finite-difference modeling of seismic motion using staggered grids with nonuniform spacing Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, February 1, 1999; 89(1): 54 - 68. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. Moczo, M. Lucka, J. Kristek, and M. Kristekova 3D Displacement finite differences and a combined memory optimization Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, February 1, 1999; 89(1): 69 - 79. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. N. Brune and A. Anooshehpoor A physical model of the effect of a shallow weak layer on strong ground motion for strike-slip ruptures Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, August 1, 1998; 88(4): 1070 - 1078. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. Pitarka, K. Irikura, T. Iwata, and H. Sekiguchi Three-dimensional simulation of the near-fault ground motion for the 1995 Hyogo-Ken Nanbu (Kobe), Japan, earthquake Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, April 1, 1998; 88(2): 428 - 440. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |