Average QLg, QSn, and observation of Lg blockage in the continental margin of Nova Scotia

Abstract

The term "Lg blockage" refers to the sudden disappearance of the Lg phase along a particular propagation path which is commonly seen at continental-oceanic transition zones. In this paper we present observational evidence of Lg blockage across the continental margin of Nova Scotia in eastern Canada. Regional Lg and Sn spectra from 91 events with epicentral distances between 100 and 1200 km and magnitudes between 2.5 and 4.7 are inverted simultaneously for the source spectrum, site amplification, and average attenuation. The vertical displacement spectra were estimated between 0.9 and 10.75Hz. The assumptions include a fixed frequency-independent geometric spreading rate for Lg and a frequency-dependent spreading model for the Sn. Estimates for the apparent regional attenuations are QLg (f) = 615(±25) f 0.35(±0.04) and QSn (f) = 404(±23) f 0.45(±0.03). Results from this study provide an accurate parameterization of observed amplitude spectra and are valuable for representing wave propagation in the region. Based on the observation of a strong trade-off between Sn and Lg amplitudes which have different attenuation characteristics, we conclude any attenuation study based on measuring amplitude of a package of several different phases, without taking into consideration the propagation characteristics of individual waveforms at the region of study, may bias the estimation of average regional Q.

Publication Title

Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth

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