An Improved Magnitude Estimation Method Using Combination of Predominant Period and Peak Amplitude for Earthquake Early Warning

Abstract

The critical technology of Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) is determining the size of an earthquake and the predicted ground motion at given site, from the first few seconds of the P wave arrivals. Currently, there were two different approaches to the EEW magnitude estimation, the predominant period method and the peak amplitude method. However, both methods mentioned above had some disadvantages, such as significant uncertainty and saturation at great magnitude. To improve the results of magnitude estimation, a combined method using predominant period τc and peak amplitude of acceleration Pmax was introduced. Compared with the predominant period method and the peak amplitude method, the estimation standard deviation level of the combined method is 0.42 using NSMP strong motion data. The magnitude estimation results of the first three seconds P wave indicate that, the estimation precision of combined method is higher than those of the two methods, the predominant period method and the peak amplitude method, and the saturation at great magnitude is improved.