HR: 1330h
AN: S42B-0161 [PDF]
TI: Rapid Magnitude Determination Using P-Wave Arrivals: Magnitude-Period Relations for Japan and the
Pacific Northwest
AU: * Lockman, A B
EM: drew@geology.wisc.edu
AF: Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1215 West Dayton St., Madison,
WI 53706 United States
AU: Allen, R M
EM: rallen@geology.wisc.edu
AF: Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1215 West Dayton St., Madison,
WI 53706 United States
AB:
Recent efforts to mitigate earthquake hazards in Southern California using earthquake early warning demonstrate the utility
of using the frequency content of P-wave arrivals to rapidly estimate earthquake magnitude. Studies have shown the P-wave
period increases with magnitude, a relationship observed by applying a 10.0 Hz low-pass filter for events with magnitudes
between 3.0 and 5.0, and applying a 3.0 Hz low-pass filter for events greater than magnitude 4.5. These findings indicate
that P-wave detection and analysis could be used to issue a warning before ground motion begins in areas where population
centers and active faults are co-located.
Although the magnitude-period relationship for Southern California has been identified, the limited availability of large
magnitude events necessitates analysis of earthquakes in other regions to determine if the relationship is consistent in
different geologic settings. Here we present the findings of a study performed using earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest
and Japan. Our results show a similar behavior when the same 3.0 Hz and 10.0 Hz filters are applied, suggesting the
attenuation characteristics of different regions do not significantly affect the magnitude-period relations. Although the
trend observed in Southern California earthquakes remains for the Japan and Pacific Northwest earthquakes, we find that
optimal sensitivity to magnitude is achieved by applying different filters for each region. Earthquakes in Japan show the
greatest magnitude sensitivity by applying a 5 Hz low-pass filter for low magnitude events, and a 2.5 Hz low-pass filter for
large magnitude events. Earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest show the greatest sensitivity by applying a 0.3 Hz low-pass
filter for low magnitude events, and a 0.1 Hz low-pass filter for large magnitude events.
DE: 7223 Seismic hazard assessment and prediction
SC: Seismology [S]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting