Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America
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Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America; February 1999; v. 89; no. 1; p. 14-21
© 1999 Seismological Society of America
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Seismic coupling of interface modes in sedimentary basins: A recipe for disaster

Cinna Lomnitz, Jorge Flores, Octavio Novaro, Thomas H. Seligman and Raúl Esquivel

Instituto de Geofísica Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 México, D.F.
Instituto de Física Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Aptdo. Postal 20-364, 01000 México, D.F.
Unidad de Cuernavaca Instituto de Matemáticas Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Aptdo. Postal 139-B, 62190 Cuernavaca, Mor.

Abstract

Coupling between an evanescent P wave and a Rayleigh wave can occur when the two modes share the same phase velocity at an interface. The result is a new, distinctive monochromatic mode of large amplitude and finite duration that may reverberate in a bounded layer, generating stationary patterns due to constructive and destructive interference. Such modes may be responsible for earthquake damage in the Valley of Mexico and perhaps in other sedimentary basins vulnerable to seismic disasters on soft ground.






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