Mid-European seismic attenuation anomaly

Abstract

Macroseismic studies of various historical earthquakes with epicenters in the Eastern Alps region have shown a significant elongation of isoseismals in the North-West direction. Such an anomalous attenuation of seismic waves in Central Europe is investigated on the basis of instrumental records of two moderate-size earthquakes in the Vienna Basin, which occurred in September and October 2013. It has been found that for both earthquakes the peak amplitudes of both velocity and acceleration are considerably higher to the North-West of the epicenters compared to the other directions. The peak ground velocity amplitudes at comparable epicentral distances but different azimuths may vary by as much as one order of magnitude. The inspection of individual seismograms suggests that the phenomenon is associated mainly with the propagation of S waves. Significant differences in frequency content of the seismic waves radiated to different azimuths are also demonstrated. The maximum predominant frequency was not observed at stations closest to the epicenters but about 250km away, in the Bohemian Massif. The possible causes of these observations are briefly discussed on the basis of an elementary data analysis but further research and in-depth analysis is required to elucidate the causes of these phenomena.