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http://hdl.handle.net/2122/4107
Authors: | Rigano, S.* Cara, F.* Lombardo, G.* Rovelli, A.* |
Title: | Evidence for ground motion polarization on fault zones of mt. etna volcano | Journal: | Journal of Geophysical Research | Series/Report no.: | /113 (2008) | Publisher: | AGU | Issue Date: | 22-Jul-2008 | DOI: | 10.1029/2007JB005574 | URL: | http://www.agu.org/journals/pip/jb/2007JB005574-pip.pdf | Keywords: | polarization fault zones Etna volcano microtremors |
Subject Classification: | 04. Solid Earth::04.06. Seismology::04.06.04. Ground motion 04. Solid Earth::04.06. Seismology::04.06.06. Surveys, measurements, and monitoring 04. Solid Earth::04.06. Seismology::04.06.08. Volcano seismology 04. Solid Earth::04.06. Seismology::04.06.09. Waves and wave analysis 04. Solid Earth::04.06. Seismology::04.06.11. Seismic risk |
Abstract: | During local and regional earthquakes, an evident amplification of horizontal ground motion is observed at two seismological stations near the Tremestieri fault, on the southeastern flank of Mt. Etna volcano. Rotated-component spectral ratios show a narrow spectral peak around 4-Hz along a N40°E direction. A conventional polarization analysis using the eigenvectors of the covariance matrix confirms the very stable directional effect enhancing the approximately NE-SW elongation of the horizontal ground motion in the fault zone. The effect is evident during the entire seismogram and independent of source backazimuth as well as distance and depth of earthquakes. The same polarization is observed in ambient noise as well. This consistency allowed us to use microtremors for checking ground motion polarization along and across the Tremestieri fault zone with a high spatial resolution. The result is a stable polarization of horizontal motion in the entire area, interesting a broad frequency band. To check whether this ground motion property is recurrent and understand a possible relationship with fault strike, faulting style, or orientation of fractures, ambient noise was recorded on other mapped faults of the Mt. Etna area, the Moscarello, Acicatena and Pernicana faults. The latter, in particular, is characterized by different strike and faulting style. A systematic tendency of ambient noise to be polarized is found in all of the faults. A picture emerges where normal faults of the eastern flank show a E-W to NE-SW polarization that changes on the Pernicana fault, which develops approximately E-W and is characterized by a prevailing NW-SE to NS polarization. Directions of polarization were never parallel to the fault strike. Moreover, polarization persists too far away from the fault trace, excluding an effect limited to a narrow low velocity zone hosted between harder wall rocks. Both these observations rule out an interpretation in terms of fault-trapped waves. The cause of observed polarizations will be the subject of future studies. However, the consistency with recent results of velocity anisotropy in a part of the investigated area suggests a possible role of attenuation anisotropy on horizontal amplitude variations versus azimuth. |
Appears in Collections: | Article published / in press |
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2007JB005574-pip.pdf | Main article | 4.54 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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