A multidisciplinary approach to the seismic characterization of a mountain top (Monteluco, central Italy)

This study provides a seismic characterization of the flat top area of Monteluco carbonate mountain using a multidisciplinary approach. Recordings of ambient vibrations and local earthquakes, geophysical and borehole data, detailed geological surveys and rock mass characterizations were used to investigate the ground-motion amplification observed on the flat top of Monteluco. Weak motion measurements carried out on the top area gave resonance frequency (f0) in the range of 2-4 Hz, likely due to the occurrence of fractured rocks, tens of meters thick. In this frequency range and in the same target area, it was also possible to observe a nearly NW-SE polarization of the seismic signal, which we have tentatively correlated with the main mapped fault systems. Nevertheless, a topographic effect on noise polarization cannot be excluded.