Time and Space Variation of Strong Motions Parameters for Subduction Interface Earthquakes

Abstract

The strong ground motions generated by earthquakes can be related to the characteristics of the earthquakes source (stress drop, rupture velocity etc..), and therefore to the frictional conditions of the faults. These characteristics are usually studied by analyzing the low frequency band (≤ 1Hz) of the strong motion records of large earthquakes. The improvement of strong motion networks has generated large datasets of records of moderate and low magnitude earthquakes (Mw ≤ 6.0). These records contain information in the high frequency band (1 Hz – 50 Hz), which cannot be exploited using classical seismological methods. In order exploit the strong motion records of low magnitude earthquakes to study the subduction interface’s frictional conditions, we explore two methods for comparing the earthquakes frequency content: the first one based on spectral ratios, and the second one based on Ground Motion Prediction Equations (GMPEs). These methods have been used to investigate the spatial and temporal variability of the frequency content of subduction interface earthquakes in North Chile and Japan. Their respective benefits and limitations have been analyzed. These methodological comparisons allowed us to cross compare and validate the results, and to propose a new, reliable methodology based on the analysis of GMPEs residuals to compare the earthquakes frequency content. The analysis of the results showed a depth dependency of the frequency content of subduction earthquakes in agreement with the one derived from large megathrust ruptures [Lay et al., 2012]. Additionally, variations of the earthquake frequency content along trench have been detected, which may drive to a lateral segmentation of the subduction interface. This segmentation has been compared to the spatial distribution of the seismicity, the geometry of the subduction interface and its slippage conditions. Finally, before the occurrence of 2014 Iquique Earthquake Mw 8.1 in North Chile, a temporal evolution of the frequency content of the foreshocks has been detected, associated to a precursory slow slip of the subduction interface.