Observed Evidences of Frequency-Dependent Site Spectral Amplification due to Strong Structural Control of Active Reverse Faults at Different Three Localities in Japan

Abstract

\n In the present study, observed active fault zone related site amplification is calculated based on Fourier acceleration spectrum (FAS) at three different localities in Japan. For this purpose, the FASs are calculated using 26432 earthquakes recorded at 126 K-NET and KiK-net seismic stations, which are distributed on the fault zones and upthrown and downthrown sides. This observed amplification is strongly frequency-dependent because of the presence of the near-surface low-velocity flower fault structure and the deeper fault zone. Moreover, the amplification patterns at each study area are tectonic-specific patterns. Sources inside the active fault zones could produce amplification at high frequencies at stations on both fault zone and far away from the fault zone. This is because of the impact of the near-surface fault zone. Sources outside the active fault zones could not produce significant amplification at high frequencies, whereas remarkable high amplification at low frequencies exhibits a gradual increase through stations on hanging walls, fault zones, and footwalls. Remarkably, low-frequency amplification due to sources outside the active fault zones at stations on footwalls is much higher than those observed on hanging walls. Interestingly, the peaks of the low-frequency amplification are corresponding to wavelengths that approximately equalize the width of the fault zone. Diffuse field theory inversion using earthquake horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (EHVSR) could successfully detect the presence of fault zone low-velocity layers. However, analyzing the fault zone related site effects using HVSR is not effective because of the strong amplification related structural control of the active fault zones on the ground motions.