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Coda duration magnitudes in central California: An empirical approach

Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America
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https://doi.org/10.1785/BSSA0800051190

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Abstract

A new empirical coda magnitude MD is presented for the central California seismic network (CALNET), in which station corrections are introduced to reduce the influence of hypocenter and station distributions. The new magnitude scale is obtained by relating the lapse-time τ^ to local magnitudes ML using data from 55 earthquakes with 1.1 ≦ ML ≤ 5.6 from June 1977 through 1981. Magnitude estimates are significantly improved by introducing corrections for the seismograph instrument attenuation setting αij and a site correction δj. The magnitude of the ith event 〈MD〉, is the median value of individual

MDij = -1.03 + 2.10log10τˆij + 0.00268τˆij + αij + δj,

where τ^ij is the lapse-time measured at the jth station. Local site effects influence the duration of the coda and cause stations to either overestimate or underestimate 〈MD〉, typically up to 0.5 magnitude units. The distribution of the site corrections is spatially correlated, changing coherently across major tectonic and geologic features such as the San Andreas fault. It appears that the site corrections are influenced by the physical attenuation properties near the station, seemingly contradicting the concept that the coda is related to back-scattering and attenuation in a volume with dimensions on the order of the hypocenter to receiver distance.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Coda duration magnitudes in central California: An empirical approach
Series title Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America
DOI 10.1785/BSSA0800051190
Volume 80
Issue 5
Year Published 1990
Language English
Publisher Seismological Society of America
Description 15 p.
First page 1190
Last page 1204
Country United States
State California
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