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

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (7) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Chávez-García, F. J. Articles by Stephenson, W. R. Search for Related Content GeoRef GeoRef Citation

3D Site Effects: A Thorough Analysis of a High-Quality Dataset

Instituto de Ingeniería, UNAM
Apdo. Postal 70-472
Coyoacán
04510 México, D.F.
Mexico
(F.J.C.-G., J.C.)
Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, Ltd.
Gracefield Road
P.O. Box 30 368
Lower Hutt
New Zealand
(W.R.S.)

Manuscript received 10 April 2001.

This article is a contribution toward filling the large gap that currently exists between theoretical and observational studies of site effects. We present a detailed analysis of 10 events recorded by a dense temporary seismograph network that operated in the small (roughly 1.3 by 0.4 km) alluvial valley of Parkway, New Zealand. We computed f-k spectra for the three recorded components of those 10 events as a function of frequency and time window along the seismograms. Our results show that a major part of the energy in the records propagates as surface waves. The small size of the basin explains the observation that small phase velocity waves appear shortly after direct P- and S-wave arrivals. Both Love and Rayleigh waves are present. It was difficult to isolate individual wavetrains, but directions of propagation are dominated by southerly directions, especially at lower frequencies and earlier times along the seismograms. The inversion of observed phase velocity dispersion is in very good agreement with available information on the subsoil structure for this valley. A comparison with a different interpretation of one event from our dataset shows clearly how misleading it can be to analyze partial observations. The large variability of ground motion in the time domain contrasts with the very stable results obtained for this dataset in the frequency domain and indicates that we still have a long way to go before we are able to incorporate locally generated surface waves into the frame of modern building codes.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				F. J. Chavez-Garcia, M. Rodriguez, and W. R. Stephenson An Alternative Approach to the SPAC Analysis of Microtremors: Exploiting Stationarity of Noise Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, February 1, 2005; 95(1): 277 - 293. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Comment on "3D Site Effects: A Thorough Analysis of a High-Quality Dataset," by F. J. Chavez-Garcia, J. Castillo, and W. R. Stephenson Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, October 1, 2003; 93(5): 2301 - 2305.

				Reply to "Comment on `3D Site Effects: A Thorough Analysis of a High-Quality Dataset,' by F. J. Chavez-Garcia, J. Castillo, and W. R. Stephenson," by R. Paolucci and E. Faccioli Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, October 1, 2003; 93(5): 2306 - 2316.