Predicting earthquake ground shaking due to 1D soil layering and 3D basin structure in SW British Columbia, Canada
Date
2011-07-20
Authors
Molnar, Sheri
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Abstract
This thesis develops and explores two methodologies to assess earthquake ground shaking in southwestern British Columbia based on 1D soil layering and 3D basin structure. To assess site response based on soil layering, microtremor array measurements were conducted at two sites of contrasting geology to estimate Rayleigh-wave dispersion curves. A Bayesian inversion algorithm is developed to invert the dispersion data for the shear-wave velocity (VS) profile together with quantitative uncertainty estimates, accounting rigorously for data error covariance and model parameterization selection. The recovered VS profiles are assessed for reliability by comparison with invasive VS measurements at each site with excellent agreement. Probabilistic site response analysis is conducted based on a sample of VS profiles drawn from the posterior probability density of the microtremor inversion. The quantitative uncertainty analysis shows that the rapid and inexpensive microtremor array method provides sufficient resolution of soil layering for practical characterization of earthquake ground motion.
To assess the effects of 3D Georgia basin structure on long-period (> 2 s) ground motion for large scenario earthquakes, numerical 3D finite difference modelling of viscoelastic wave propagation is applied. Both deep (> 40 km) subducting Juan de Fuca plate and crustal (5 km) North America plate earthquakes are simulated in locations congruent with known seismicity. Simulations are calibrated by comparing synthetic waveforms with 36 selected strong- and weak-motion seismograms of the 2001 MW 6.8 Nisqually earthquake. The ratio between predicted peak ground motions in models with and without Georgia basin sediments is applied as a quantitative measure of basin amplification. Steep edges in the upper 1 km of the northwest and southeast extents of the basin are coincident with the appearance of surface waves. Focussing of north-to-northeast propagating surface waves by shallow (< 1 km) basin structure increases ground motion in a localized region of southern Greater Vancouver. This effect occurs for both types of earthquakes located south-southwest of Vancouver at distances greater than ~80 km. The predicted shaking level is increased up to 17 times and the duration of moderate shaking (> 3.4 cm/s) is up to 16 times longer due to the 3D Georgia basin structure.
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Keywords
earthquake ground shaking, site response, amplification, microtremor array method, finite difference modelling, earthquake simulation, ambient vibrations, Bayesian inversion, Monte Carlo simulation, Vancouver, Victoria, earthquakes, microtremors