Joint analysis of Rayleigh-wave dispersion curves and diffuse-field HVSR for site characterization: The case of El Ejido town (SE Spain)

Villaseñor

et al. 2021

Sensors

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The Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) of ambient vibration measurements is a common tool to explore near surface shear wave velocity (Vs) structure. HVSR is often applied for earthquake risk assessments and civil engineering projects. Ambient vibration signal originates from the combination of a multitude of natural and man-made sources. Ambient vibration sources can be any ground motion inducing phenomena, e.g., ocean waves, wind, industrial activity or road traffic, where each source does not need to be strictly stationary even during short times. Typically, the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is applied to obtain spectral information from the measured time series in order to estimate the HVSR, even though possible non-stationarity may bias the spectra and HVSR estimates. This problem can be alleviated by employing the Hilbert–Huang Transform (HHT) instead of FFT. Comparing 1D inversion results for FFT and HHT-based HVSR estimates from data measured at a well studied, urban, permanent station, we find that HHT-based inversion models may yield a lower data misfit χ2 by up to a factor of 25, a more appropriate Vs model according to available well-log lithology, and higher confidence in the achieved model.

Section: Examplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio of Ambient Vibration Obtained with Hilbert–Huang Transform

Neukirch

Villaseñor

et al. 2021

Sensors

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“…HVSR measurements are usually acquired at much smaller interstation distances [ 15 , 24 , 25 ] so that adjacent stations yield similar and coherent data. The present site spacing is inadequate for the HVSR method (given the high operating frequencies of the instrumentation) but should be more dense in order to allow proper interpretation of the very near surface regional structure.…”

Section: Maupasacq Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) or Nakamura’s technique [ 1 , 2 , 3 ] is widely used in seismic exploration for constraining shallow geologic structures [ 4 ]. While it is predominantly a tool for soft sediment thickness estimations and seismic hazard analysis [ 5 , 6 ], it draws increasing attention for permafrost depth estimation [ 7 , 8 , 9 ] and various subsurface characterisation purposes [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. Among its advantages are practicality and cost efficiency [ 16 ], partly because, with very little additional effort, it is a by-product of most seismic survey campaigns that employ three component (3C) instruments.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the Utility of Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratios of Ambient Noise in Joint Inversion with Rayleigh Wave Dispersion Curves for the Large-N Maupasacq Experiment

Neukirch

Villaseñor

et al. 2021

Sensors

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Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratios (HVSR) and Rayleigh group velocity dispersion curves (DC) can be used to estimate the shallow S-wave velocity (VS) structure. Knowing the VS structure is important for geophysical data interpretation either in order to better constrain data inversions for P-wave velocity (VP) structures such as travel time tomography or full waveform inversions or to directly study the VS structure for geo-engineering purposes (e.g., ground motion prediction). The joint inversion of HVSR and dispersion data for 1D VS structure allows characterising the uppermost crust and near surface, where the HVSR data (0.03 to 10s) are most sensitive while the dispersion data (1 to 30s) constrain the deeper model which would, otherwise, add complexity to the HVSR data inversion and adversely affect its convergence. During a large-scale experiment, 197 three-component short-period stations, 41 broad band instruments and 190 geophones were continuously operated for 6 months (April to October 2017) covering an area of approximately 1500km2 with a site spacing of approximately 1 to 3km. Joint inversion of HVSR and DC allowed estimating VS and, to some extent density, down to depths of around 1000m. Broadband and short period instruments performed statistically better than geophone nodes due to the latter’s gap in sensitivity between HVSR and DC. It may be possible to use HVSR data in a joint inversion with DC, increasing resolution for the shallower layers and/or alleviating the absence of short period DC data, which may be harder to obtain. By including HVSR to DC inversions, confidence improvements of two to three times for layers above 300m were achieved. Furthermore, HVSR/DC joint inversion may be useful to generate initial models for 3D tomographic inversions in large scale deployments. Lastly, the joint inversion of HVSR and DC data can be sensitive to density but this sensitivity is situational and depends strongly on the other inversion parameters, namely VS and VP. Density estimates from a HVSR/DC joint inversion should be treated with care, while some subsurface structures may be sensitive, others are clearly not. Inclusion of gravity inversion to HVSR/DC joint inversion may be possible and prove useful.

“…Over the past decades, using the single-station microtremor horizontal-to-vertical (H/V ) spectral ratio as a method for shallow subsurface characterization has attracted a number of site investigation studies both on land (e.g. Bard, 1998;Fäh et al, 2003;Scherbaum et al, 2003;Lontsi et al, 2015Lontsi et al, , 2016García-Jerez et al, 2016;Piña-Flores et al, 2017;Spica et al, 2018;García-Jerez et al, 2019) and in marine environment (e.g. Huerta-Lopez et al, 2003;Muyzert, 2007;Overduin et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A generalized theory for full microtremor horizontal-to-vertical [H/V(z, f)] spectral ratio interpretation in offshore and onshore environments

Lontsi

Geophysical Journal International

Molina‐Villegas

et al. 2019

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Advances in the field of seismic interferometry have provided a basic theoretical interpretation to the full spectrum of the microtremor horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio [H/V (f )]. The interpretation has been applied to ambient seismic noise data recorded both at the surface and at depth. The new algorithm, based on the diffuse wavefield assumption, has been used in inversion schemes to estimate seismic wave velocity profiles that are useful input information for engineering and exploration seismology both for earthquake hazard estimation and to characterize surficial sediments. However, until arXiv:1907.04606v1 [physics.geo-ph]