The 3D velocity structure of the Santa Clara Valley (SCV) was further investigated by modeling
the teleseismic P-waves recorded by the 41 seismic stations of the SCV Seismic Experiment
(USGS/UCB/PASSCAL, 6/98-12/98). In addition to the UC Berkeley (Stidham et al., 1999; Stidham, 1999) velocity model,
the USGS ver. 2 (Jachens, 2000) velocity model was also used. The 3D finite-difference code
E3D (Larsen and Schultz, 1995) was used to simulate the propagation of plane waves
through each model.
The measured amplitudes and the residual travel times for the P-wave arrivals as well as duration
of the P-wave coda for the
recorded data outline the basin structure. The general pattern can be reproduced using the
synthetics produced by either of the two velocity models. To better quantify differences
between the two models and the data, the region was divided into three parts (Figure
20.1) and the differences between the synthetics and the data were analyzed for each
part individually.
The results for travel time residuals as a function of distance across the SCV are presented
in Figure 20.2. The long wavelength signal across the basins can be observed in data
and in synthetics. Overall variations are larger for the UCB model than for the USGS ver. 2 model
and their range better matches the observations. Due to computational limitations the slowest
velocities in the USGS ver. 2 model were increased. Use of slower velocities would result in larger
overall variations for the USGS ver. 2 model as well. USGS ver. 2 model better describes the shape of
the observed data. It seems that the basins are wider as well as further apart than currently
modeled in the UCB model.
Our future work will include more detailed comparison of the observed and simulated
waveforms as well as analysis of the recorded microtremors which suggest continuous
excitation of the SCV basins.
This research was supported by the USGS grants 99HQGR0057 and 00HQGR0048. The Hellman Faculty Fund is acknowledged for partial support.
Jachens, R., Personal communications, 2000.
Larsen, S. and C. A. Schultz, ELAS3D: 2D/3D elastic finite-difference wave propagation code, Technical Report No. UCRL-MA-121792, 19 pp., 1995.
Stidham, C., M. Antolik, D. Dreger, S. Larsen, and B. Romanowicz, Three-dimensional structure influences on the strong-motion wavefield of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, Bull. Seism. Soc. Am., 89, 1184-1202, 1999.
Stidham, C., Three-dimensional crustal structure influences on wave propagation and generation of strong ground motion in the greater San Francisco Bay region, Ph.D. Thesis, University of California, Berkeley, November 1999.
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