HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) References Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Jongmans, D. Articles by Bard, P.-Y. Search for Related Content GeoRef GeoRef Citation

EURO-SEISTEST: Determination of the geological structure of the Volvi basin and validation of the basin response

Laboratories de Géologie de L'Ingénieur et de Prospection Géophysique Université de Liège, BAT.B19, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Laboratory of Soil Mechanics & Foundations Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, P.O.B. 450, GR-54006 Thessaloniki, Greece
Laboratoire de Géophysique Interne et Tectonophysique Observatoire de Grenoble, IRIGM-LGIT, B.P. 53 X, F-38041 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
Geophysical Laboratory Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, P.O.B. 352-1, 54006 Thessaloniki, Greece

Abstract

The Volvi basin (northern Greece) is a 5-km-wide graben of Neogene age. It has been chosen by European Union (Directorate General XII for Science, Research and Development in Climatology and Natural Hazards) as a test site (EURO-SEISTEST) for studying site effects in one of Europe's most seismic active areas. The site is located in the epicentral area of the 1978, Ms = 6.5, earthquake that struck the city of Thessaloniki. The geometry, velocity, and stratigraphy of the basin were not well known. Consequently, a number of geophysical and geotechnical studies were performed to determine the 2D geometry and the dynamic characteristics (Vp, Vs, Qs) of the valley. Investigations included 78 refraction tests, 20 surface-wave inversions, and 8 borehole seismic tests as well as geotechnical tests. This article presents the methodology used for the geophysical investigation and the results. In its center, the graben depth reaches 190 m, and at least four normal faults have been located along the section. The overall graben structure and the fault locations have been confirmed by the records of a shot generated at one edge of the valley and by the measurements of a local earthquake. Wave propagation appears to be strongly influenced by the thickness of the sediments, which in turn is controlled by fault displacements. Simple 2D modeling of the basin response was performed, and the results are in good agreement with weak-motion data, confirming the validity of the seismic structure inferred from seismic prospecting.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Bonnefoy-Claudet, A. Kohler, C. Cornou, M. Wathelet, and P.-Y. Bard Effects of Love Waves on Microtremor H/V Ratio Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, February 1, 2008; 98(1): 288 - 300. [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]

				Quantification of Frequency-Dependent Lengthening of Seismic Ground-Motion Duration due to Local Geology: Applications to the Volvi Area (Greece) Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, February 1, 2003; 93(1): 371 - 385.

				J. Riepl, P.-Y. Bard, D. Hatzfeld, C. Papaioannou, and S. Nechtschein Detailed evaluation of site-response estimation methods across and along the sedimentary valley of volvi (EURO-SEISTEST) Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, April 1, 1998; 88(2): 488 - 502. [Abstract] [PDF]