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Spatial distribution of coda Q estimated from local earthquakes in Taiwan area

Earth, Planets and Space volume 61, pages 1077–1088 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Attenuation of seismic wave energy and its spatial distributions in Taiwan area have been investigated using a large amount of short-period seismograms recorded from the local earthquakes with magnitude ranging from 2.5 to 4.5. The coda Q values were estimated in the frequency range 1.5∼18 Hz, applying the single backscattering model proposed by Aki and Chouet in 1975. The estimated average frequency dependent coda Q values within the crust give the relationship, Q C = 93f0.75, while varying from 143±33 at 1.5 Hz to 904±164 at 18 Hz central frequencies. However, using the data from deeper earthquakes, the average coda Q relationship is given as Q C = 122f0.71 in related to the material property of the crust and upper lithosphere, in which the average coda Q values vary from 180±67 at 1.5 Hz to 1000±144 at 18 Hz. The comparison of different lapse times starting at double the time of the primary S-wave from the origin time and corresponding to the datasets with different focal depths, reveals that coda Q values increase with the coda generating volume. As a whole, the regressive relationships of frequency dependent coda Q for Taiwan region approximately agree with those by previous investigators. In addition, the average coda Q values for three subregions of Taiwan were calculated and correlated with the geology and tectonic features, respectively. The lowest Q values were obtained in the region consisting of the Coastal Range and the Longitudinal Valley of eastern Taiwan, whilst the highest Q for the region underlain by the Peikang High beneath the western Coastal Plain. Such distinguishable difference has definitely explained that the seismic waves should exhibit lower decay rate in a stable region than within a seismoactive plate boundary.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geoinformatics and Disaster Reduction Technology, Ching Yun University of Technology, Taiwan

    Jen-Kuang Chung

  2. Institute of Geosciences, National Taiwan University, Taiwan

    Yen-Ling Chen

  3. Central Weather Bureau, Taiwan

    Yen-Ling Chen & Tzay-Chyn Shin

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  1. Jen-Kuang Chung
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  2. Yen-Ling Chen
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Correspondence to Jen-Kuang Chung.

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Chung, JK., Chen, YL. & Shin, TC. Spatial distribution of coda Q estimated from local earthquakes in Taiwan area. Earth Planet Sp 61, 1077–1088 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03352958

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Key words

  • Coda Q
  • scattering
  • lapse time
  • Taiwan
  • attenuation