Complexity of theMw6.3 2009 L’Aquila (central Italy) earthquake: 2. Broadband strong motion modeling

Abstract

Near-fault strong-ground motions (0.1–10 Hz) recorded during the Mw 6.3 2009 L’Aquila earthquake exhibit great spatial variability. Modeling the observed seismograms allows linking distinct features of the observed wavefield to particular source and propagation effects and provides insights on strong motion complexity from this moderate magnitude event. We utilize a hybrid integral-composite approach based on a k-square kinematic rupture model, combining low-frequency coherent and high-frequency incoherent source radiation and providing omega-squared source spectral decay. Several source model features, proven to be stable by means of an uncertainty analysis in the preceding low-frequency (<0.2 Hz) multiple finite-extent source inversion (Paper 1), were constrained. Synthetic Green’s functions are calculated in a 1D-layered crustal model including 1D soil profiles to account for site-specific response (where available). The results show that although the local site effects improve the modeling, the spatial broadband ground-motion variability is to large extent controlled by the rupture kinematics. The modeling thus confirms and further constraints the source model features, including the position and slip amount of the two main asperities, the largest asperity time delay and the rupture velocity distribution on the fault. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the crossover frequency dividing the coherent and incoherent wavefield, often considered independent on the station position, has to be variable in order to adequately reproduce both near and far station recordings. This suggests that the incoherency of the radiated wavefield is controlled by the wave-propagation phenomena and/or the initial updip rupture propagation was very smooth (coherent) up to relatively high frequencies (>2 Hz)