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Frequency-dependent attenuation of S-waves in the Kanto region, Japan

Earth, Planets and Space volume 61, pages 1067–1075 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Apparent, scattering, and intrinsic S-wave attenuations (Q −1 S , Q −1scat and Q −1int ) of the upper lithosphere in the Kanto region of Japan were measured in the 1- to 32-Hz frequency range using Multiple Lapse Time Window Analysis (MLTWA) for 115 borehole seismograms of local earthquakes. A new set of time windows for MLTWA, in which multiple isotropic scattering is assumed, was proposed and employed to estimate the frequency dependence of S-wave attenuation parameters. Scattering attenuation was found to dominate intrinsic attenuation in the S-wave attenuation mechanism at low frequencies (<;2 Hz), whereas the opposite relation was observed at high frequencies. The transition is caused by the different frequency dependences of Q −1scat (∝ f−1.5) and Q −1int (∝ f−0.7) at this frequency. Interestingly, Q −1scat is almost frequency independent at frequencies >8 Hz, which implies the self-similar nature of short-wavelength heterogeneities in the upper lithosphere. In terms of the upper lithosphere of the Kanto region, these results may indicate that the random heterogeneities characterized by the Gaussian autocorrelation function with a fractional fluctuation ε ≈ 10% and a correlation length a ≈ 2 km are superimposed on the weak background self-similar heterogeneity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Yokohama City University, 22-2 Seto, Kanazawa, Yokohama, 236-0027, Japan

    Kazuo Yoshimoto & Mariko Okada

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  1. Kazuo Yoshimoto
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  2. Mariko Okada
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Correspondence to Kazuo Yoshimoto.

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Yoshimoto, K., Okada, M. Frequency-dependent attenuation of S-waves in the Kanto region, Japan. Earth Planet Sp 61, 1067–1075 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03352957

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Key words

  • S-wave attenuation
  • scattering attenuation
  • intrinsic attenuation
  • heterogeneities in the upper lithosphere
  • Multiple Lapse Time Window Analysis