Simulation of selected strong motion records of the 2003 MW = 6.6 Bam earthquake (SE Iran), the modal summation-ray tracing methods in the WKBJ approximation

Abstract

A new analytical methodology for computing synthetic seismograms in 3-D anelastic media is applied to the modelling of the local records of the 2003 Bam Mw 6.6 earthquake, Southeastern Iran. The method is based on the combination of the modal summation technique with the asymptotic ray theory. The 3-D models are determined by a set of vertically heterogeneous sections (1-D structures) that are juxtaposed on a regular grid. The distribution of these sections in the grid is done in such a way to satisfy the condition of applicability of the WKBJ approximation, that is, the lateral variation of all the elastic parameters has to be small with respect to the prevailing wavelength. The procedure, described very briefly, has been applied for the area of the destructive 2003 December 26 Bam earthquake Mw 6.6, with a maximum cut-off frequency of 6 Hz. Synthetic seismograms show fine agreement with recorded signals when comparing shapes, amplitudes and spectra and evidence the relevance of 3-D effects.