Estimation of site amplification, attenuation and source spectra of S-waves in the East-Central Iran

Generalized inversion of the S-wave amplitude spectra from the strong-motion network data in the East-Central Iran has been used to estimate simultaneously source parameters, site response and the S-wave attenuation (Qs). In this regard, 190 three-component records were used corresponded to 40 earthquakes with the magnitudes M3.5–M7.3. These earthquakes were recorded at 42 stations in the hypocentral distance range from 9 to 200 km. The inverse problem was solved in 20 logarithmically equally spaced points in the frequency band from 0.4 to 15 Hz. The frequency-dependent site amplification was imposed, as a constraint, on two reference site responses in order to remove the undetermined degree of freedom in the inversion and obtain a unique inverse solution. Also, a geometrical spreading factor was assumed for removing the trade-off between geometrical spreading and anelastic attenuation. Different source parameters, such as seismic moment (M0), seismic energy (Es), corner frequency (fc) and Brune stress drop (Δσ), were estimated for each event by fitting an ω2 model to the spectra obtained from the inversion. The stress drop values of earthquakes, obtained in this research, are in good agreement with those of other studies. Also average site response values were correlated to the average shear wave velocities in the uppermost 30 m, in high and low frequency bands. The peak frequencies of site amplifications, estimated by the generalized inversion method, where in good agreement with those of horizontal to vertical (H/V) spectral ratios for the S-wave portion of records. However, no perfect matching in amplitude was obtained due to the deficiencies of the H/V ratio technique. By supposing a free shape for Q factor, a frequency dependent function was found, the logarithm of which could be approximated by a linear function, Q(f)=151f0.75. The uncertainties of model parameters have been evaluated by covariance matrix of least-square fit. The residuals were also analyzed in order to assess the validity of the model. The analysis of residuals with respect to magnitude and distance indicates that they are distributed normally with approximately zero mean. The robustness of the results has been studied concerning their sensitivities to the omission of different datasets, selected randomly from original database. The results obtained here can be used in predicting ground-motion parameters applying stochastic methods.

► We estimate site response, attenuation and source spectra of S-waves in the East-Central Iran.
► The average value of Brune stress drop is found to be around 49 bars.
► The H/V ratios successfully match the shapes of the site transfer functions.
► The quality factor as a function of frequency can be expressed as Q(f)=151f0.75.