The attenuation mechanism of S-waves in the source zone of the 1999 Chamoli earthquake

• Qs-1, Qd-1 and Qc-1 values at all frequencies are comparable.
• S-wave attenuation is primarily controlled by scattering attenuation.
• Q−1 values decrease drastically with increasing frequency up to 4 Hz.
• The extinction length Le varies between about 12 km to about 125 km.

In the present study the attenuation mechanism of seismic wave energy in and around the source area of the Chamoli earthquake of 29th March 1999 is estimated using the aftershock data. Most of the analyzed events are from the vicinity of the Main Central Thrust (MCT), which is a well-defined tectonic discontinuity in the Himalayas. Separation of intrinsic (Qi-1) and scattering (Qs-1) attenuation coefficient is done over the frequencies 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 Hz using Multiple Lapse Time Window Analysis (MLTWA) method. It is observed that S-waves and their coda are primarily attenuated due to scattering attenuation and seismic albedo is very high at all the frequencies. A comparison of attenuation characteristics obtained using these aftershock data with those obtained using data of general seismicity of this region reveal that at lower frequencies both intrinsic and scattering attenuation for Chamoli was much higher compared to those for Garwhal-Kumaun region using general seismicity data. At higher frequencies intrinsic attenuation for Chamoli is lower than and scattering attenuation is comparable to those obtained using general seismicity data of Garwhal-Kumaun region.