Stochastic finite-fault modeling of M w 5.4 earthquake along Uttarakhand–Nepal border

Abstract

In this work, an attempt has been made to simulate strong ground motion of M w 5.4 earthquake in Kumaun region of Uttarakhand. The simulation is based on modified stochastic finite modeling technique with dynamic corner frequency (Motazedian and Atkinson in Bull Seismol Soc Am 95:995–1010, 2005). Ground motion is simulated for 24 sites, where a magnitude 5.4 earthquake was recorded. Synthesized ground motion is found in close agreement with recorded ones, when compared in terms of main characteristics such as peak ground acceleration (PGA), Fourier spectra, response spectra and duration. Decay of PGA values with distance is almost same as that of observed ones. Successful modeling of present earthquake gives the confidence to understand and quantify seismic hazard of different parts of Uttarakhand from earthquakes of different magnitudes.