Insight into large-scale topography on analysis of high-frequency Rayleigh waves

The dispersion of surface waves could be biased in regions where topography is comparable to the wavelength. We investigate the effects on high-frequency Rayleigh waves propagating in a typical massif model through numerical simulations. High-frequency Rayleigh waves have relatively higher signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) using the Q component in the LQT coordinate system, perpendicular to the local free surface in these topographic models. When sources and stations are located at different sides of the massif, the conventional dispersion image overestimates phase velocities of Rayleigh waves, as much as 25% with topographic height/width ratio (H/r) > 0.5. The dispersion perturbation is more distinctive for fundamental modes. Using a two-layer model, the thickness deviation (ΔD/D) may be significant in surface-wave inversion due to the variation of H/r and the thickness of the first layer. These phenomena cannot be ignored in surface-wave interpretations, nevertheless they are trivial for the source and stations located at the same side of the massif.