Seismic site response estimation in the near source region of the 2009 L'Aquila, Italy, Earthquake

Abstract

To better estimate the seismic ground motion during the April 6th, 2009 earthquake in L'Aquila, we deployed temporary arrays in the near-source region. Several arrays have been successively set up in the Aterno valley's epicentral area and have recorded the aftershocks that followed the main shock, between April and September. The data has been processed in order to study the spectral ratios of the horizontal component of ground motion at the soil site and at a reference site, as well as the spectral ratio of the horizontal and the vertical movement at a single recording site. The results obtained confirm the presence of large amplification effects in both L'Aquila's historic centre and in the suburban areas. The resonance frequency has been found to be close to 0.6 Hz in downtown L'Aquila whereas the suburban areas show amplification at frequencies ranging from 2 Hz to 5 Hz.