Identification of Subsurface Structures Using H/V Curves from Earthquake Recordings: Application to Seismic Stations in Switzerland

We performed a study to test the performances of the Hybrid Heuristic Search (HHS) algorithm (Nagashima et al. 2014) using earthquake recordings at 23 instrumented sites in Switzerland. The HHS algorithm is based on the diffuse field theory and estimates the P- and S-wave velocity profiles by invert...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pure and applied geophysics 2023-03, Vol.180 (3), p.755-787
Main Authors: Chieppa, Dario, Hobiger, Manuel, Nagashima, Fumiaki, Kawase, Hiroshi, Fäh, Donat
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algorithms
Depth
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth Sciences
Earthquakes
Field theory
Geophysics/Geodesy
Investigations
P waves
S waves
Seismic activity
Seismic velocities
Subsurface investigations
Velocity
Velocity distribution
Velocity profiles
Wave velocity
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Summary:We performed a study to test the performances of the Hybrid Heuristic Search (HHS) algorithm (Nagashima et al. 2014) using earthquake recordings at 23 instrumented sites in Switzerland. The HHS algorithm is based on the diffuse field theory and estimates the P- and S-wave velocity profiles by inverting horizontal-to vertical spectral ratio (H/V) curves of earthquake recordings. In this study we inverted the H/V curves computed using the arrivals of local and regional earthquakes with a maximum local magnitude of 4.6. We compared the results of the inversion technique to the information available for each investigated site (e.g., site characterization analysis). Our results emphasize the importance of site characterization data for the definition of the parameter space in the near surface, and the potential to extend the investigated depth to much higher depths than the standard site characterization measurements. The additional constraints in the inversion are important to drive the inversion towards a unique solution. Our analysis confirms the potential of the HHS algorithm to invert the full earthquake H/V curve for subsurface investigation and its applicability to areas with low magnitude earthquakes. In addition, the HHS algorithm can be a useful technique to investigate deeper structures and extend the velocity profile to depths that are not resolved by classical site characterization techniques.
ISSN:0033-4553
1420-9136
DOI:10.1007/s00024-022-03226-2