Amplitudes Of Seismic Waves Research Articles

Shaking table test of seismic response of immersed tunnels under effect of water

Seismic responses of immersed tube tunnel segments were obtained via a series of shaking table tests. The experiment took water effect into consideration in comparison with the existing researches published so far. Details focusing on test equipment, materials, similitude, experimental approach and cases are presented. Response data under 4 kinds of seismic waves whose peak accelerations were modified to 0.1 g, 0.2 g, 0.4 g at 4 water levels were acquired and analyzed. Results show that characteristics of seismic waves, wave amplitude and water all have effect on seismic response of immersed tube tunnel segments. Water has much greater influence on transverse responses than longitudinal ones.

Pseudo Dynamic Test and Time-History Analyses of Traditional-Style Steel Frame Structures

To study the seismic performances of steel frame structures in traditional-style buildings, the pseudo-dynamic test was carried out on a 1/2 ratio model built in the areas with a seismic design intensity of eight. The input earthquake waves included El Centro, Lanzhou and Wenchuan, and the maximum peak accelerations of these ground motions were 70, 200, 400 and 620 gal (0.7, 2, 4 and 6.2 m/s2). The seismic responses such as displacement, reaction force, acceleration were recorded. The hysteretic behavior, energy dissipation capacity, time-history curves of acceleration and displacement, bearing capacity and stiffness degradation were analyzed. The results show that the traditional-style steel frame structure stayed in the elastic stage subjected to no more than 400 gal (4 m/s2) PGA. There was no obvious pinch phenomenon in the hysteretic loops and the structural energy dissipation increased significantly with the increase of the seismic wave amplitude. When the 9-intensity seismic wave was applied, some unique members in traditional-style buildings yielded, and the spectral characteristic of the input seismic wave had a great influence on the seismic response of the structure. The modal analysis and time-history analyses were applied to the structure, the vertical deformation of the second and third modes of the steel frame was larger than that of the first modal shape, the reaction force value of finite element was a little larger than that of the test under the same loading condition. When the structure subjected to more severe earthquake, some unique members in traditional-style buildings acted as the first earthquake fortification line and dissipate most energy, and the structural most obvious reaction took place in advance or delayed a bit.

A prediction model for amplitude-frequency characteristics of blast-induced seismic waves

We have developed a prediction model for dominant frequency and amplitude of blast-induced seismic waves. A blast expansion cavity is used to establish a relationship between the explosive properties and amplitude frequency of blast-induced seismic waves. In this model, the dominant frequency and amplitude of blast-induced seismic waves are mainly influenced by the initial pressure and the adiabatic exponent of explosives in the same medium. The dominant frequency increases with the decreasing initial pressure or the increasing adiabatic exponent. This prediction model is compared with the experiments. The difference in the blast cavity between the prediction model and the field experiment is in the range of 5%–9%, and the difference in the dominant frequency is within 18.8%–46.0%. The comparison indicates that the model can reasonably predict the frequency and amplitude of blast-induced seismic waves.

Testing and comparison of three frequency-based magnitude estimating parameters for earthquake early warning based events in the Yunnan region, China in 2014

To mitigate potential seismic disasters in the Yunnan region, China, building up suitable magnitude estimation scaling laws for an earthquake early warning system (EEWS) is in high demand. In this paper, the records from the main and after-shocks of the Yingjiang earthquake (M W 5.9), the Ludian earthquake (M W 6.2) and the Jinggu earthquake (M W 6.1), which occurred in Yunnan in 2014, were used to develop three estimators, including the maximum of the predominant period the characteristic period (τ c) and the log-average period (τ log), for estimating earthquake magnitude. The correlations between these three frequency-based parameters and catalog magnitudes were developed, compared and evaluated against previous studies. The amplitude and period of seismic waves might be amplified in the Ludian mountain-canyon area by multiple reflections and resonance, leading to excessive values of the calculated parameters, which are consistent with Sichuan's scaling. As a result, τ log was best correlated with magnitude and τ c had the highest slope of regression equation, while performed worst with large scatter and less sensitivity for the change of magnitude. No evident saturation occurred in the case of M 6.1 and M 6.2 in this study. Even though both τ c and τ log performed similarly and can well reflect the size of the Earthquake, τ log has slightly fewer prediction errors for small scale earthquakes (M ≤ 4.5), which was also observed by previous research. Our work offers an insight into the feasibility of a EEWS in Yunnan, China, and this study shows that it is necessary to build up an appropriate scaling law suitable for the warning region.

Assessment of rock-bit interaction and drilling performance using elastic waves propagated by the drilling system

A novel passive Vibration Assisted Rotary Drilling (pVARD) tool was designed and tested to improve drilling performance or rate of penetration (ROP) both in laboratory and field trials. This paper focuses on characterizing drilling performance by means of seismic while drilling (SWD) method and bit vibration analysis. The field scale pVARD tool was applied in drill-off test (DOT) with an array of geophones (1C) spread along drill site. Rotary drilling using a polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) bit was conducted and bit-rock interaction acted as the seismic source for reverse vertical seismic profile (RVSP). The rig waves were selected for characterizing drilling performance due to limited body waves observed during the experiment. The frequency spectra of the rig waves were determined which provided two effective seismic parameters: rig wave amplitude and frequency bandwidth for drilling performance analysis. These spectrums varied in response to variation in drilling conditions, i.e. weight-on-bit (WOB), pVARD tool use and configuration, and rock type. Bit vibration was assessed by means of vibration accelerations measured with a downhole SensorSub. The whole available data used for characterizing drilling performance included WOB, bit vibration accelerations, seismic wave amplitude and frequency bandwidth and rock type. Three groups of DOT tests were conducted: 1) conventional drilling in red shale, 2) pVARD drilling and conventional drilling in red shale, and 3) pVARD drilling and conventional drilling in grey shale. Analysis of the data shows that the seismic wave amplitude and frequency bandwidth decreased with increase of drilling performance. This is explained as more energy being partitioned for improved drilling performance with less energy partitioned to longitudinal wave and rig-ground motion. This phenomenon existed for both conventional drilling and pVARD tool drilling, independent of rock type. For comparable WOB, seismic wave amplitude and frequency bandwidth varied in response to drilling with or without pVARD tool, from which the pVARD tool mechanism was further investigated.

Underestimation of Microearthquake Size by the Magnitude Scale of the Japan Meteorological Agency: Influence on Earthquake Statistics

AbstractMagnitude scales based on the amplitude of seismic waves, including the Japan Meteorological Agency magnitude scale (Mj), are commonly used in routine processes. The moment magnitude scale (Mw), however, is more physics based and is able to evaluate any type and size of earthquake. This paper addresses the relation between Mj and Mw for microearthquakes. The relative moment magnitudes among earthquakes are well constrained by multiple spectral ratio analyses. The results for the events in the Fukushima Hamadori and northern Ibaraki prefecture areas of Japan imply that Mj is significantly and systematically smaller than Mw for microearthquakes. The Mj‐Mw curve has slopes of 1/2 and 1 for small and large values of Mj, respectively; for example, Mj = 1.0 corresponds to Mw = 2.0. A simple numerical simulation implies that this is due to anelastic attenuation and the recording using a finite sampling interval. The underestimation affects earthquake statistics. The completeness magnitude, Mc, for magnitudes lower than which the magnitude‐frequency distribution deviates from the Gutenberg‐Richter law, is effectively lower for Mw than that for Mj, by taking into account the systematic difference between Mj and Mw. The b values of the Gutenberg‐Richter law are larger for Mw than for Mj. As the b values for Mj and Mw are well correlated, qualitative argument using b values is not affected. While the estimated b values for Mj are below 1.5, those for Mw often exceed 1.5. This may affect the physical implication of the seismicity.

Analysis of coal seam thickness and seismic wave amplitude: A wedge model

Coal seam thickness is of great significance in mining coal resources. The focus of this study is to determine the relationship between coal seam thickness and seismic wave amplitude, and the factors influencing this relationship. We used a wedge model to analyze this relationship and its influencing factors. The results show that wave interference from the top and bottom interfaces is the primary reason for the linear relationship between seismic wave amplitude and wedge thickness, when the thickness of the wedge is less than one quarter of the wavelength. This relationship is influenced by the dominant frequency, reflection coefficients from the top and bottom boundaries, depth, thickness, and angle of the wedge. However, when the lateral shift between the reflected waves is smaller than the radius of the first Fresnel zone, the wedge angle and change in lithology at the top and bottom layers are considered to have little effect on the amplitude of the interference wave. The difference in the dominant frequency of seismic waves can be reduced by filtering, and the linear relationship between amplitude and coal thickness can be improved. Field data from Sihe coal mine was analyzed, and the error was found to be within 4% of the predicted seismic wave amplitude. The above conclusions could help predict the thickness of coal seam by seismic amplitude.

Geometric spreading in orthorhombic media

Geometric spreading is an important factor that needs to be taken into account in the analysis of seismic amplitudes. In particular, when using any modification of amplitude variation with offset or amplitude versus azimuth methods, the effect of geometric spreading is crucial to isolate the effect of reflection from a particular interface. The relative geometric spreading controls the amplitude of seismic waves passing through a velocity model. In the case of an anisotropic medium, geometric spreading becomes very complicated. Usually, geometric spreading is computed from ray tracing. I have derived simple analytical formulas to compute the relative geometric spreading of P-waves in a stack of acoustic orthorhombic layers with azimuthal variations in symmetry planes. I also analyzed the kinematic properties of the derived equations and performed sensitivity analysis with respect to three anelliptic parameters. A simple and accurate approximation for the relative geometric spreading is derived and tested against well-known approximation. My approximations give insight into the role that anelliptic parameters play into the azimuthal distribution of amplitudes and can be used for amplitude analysis in multilayered orthorhombic models.

Application of the seismic quality factor versus offset and azimuth (QVOA) for fractured reservoir characterization

Fractures impact the permeability of a reservoir and their characterization is important because the presence of fractures determines the flow of hydrocarbons during production. Accurate modelling of the fracture network can help in optimizing the production of the reservoir. Fractures affect the amplitudes of seismic waves; therefore, seismic attenuation is used to determine their characteristics. Here, a new technique of seismic fracture characterization is employed. QVOA, which involves the evaluation of the seismic attenuation (Q) and its variation with offset (O) and azimuth (A). The QVOA method is a two-step process where seismic attenuation is computed first and then its variation is determined with respect to offset and azimuth. We compute seismic attenuation using four different techniques based on the spectral ratio and frequency-shift methods. The variation with respect to offset and azimuth is determined using an approximate method of sectors (ASM) and approximate truncate method (ATM). The QVOA method is similar to the AVOA method for PP-reflection (Rüeger, 1997) since it includes intercept (A), gradient (B) and fracture orientation.

Effect of fracture fill on frequency‐dependent anisotropy of fractured porous rocks

ABSTRACTIn fractured reservoirs, seismic wave velocity and amplitude depend on frequency and incidence angle. Frequency dependence is believed to be principally caused by the wave‐induced flow of pore fluid at the mesoscopic scale. In recent years, two particular phenomena, i.e., patchy saturation and flow between fractures and pores, have been identified as significant mechanisms of wave‐induced flow. However, these two phenomena are studied separately. Recently, a unified model has been proposed for a porous rock with a set of aligned fractures, with pores and fractures filled with two different fluids. Existing models treat waves propagating perpendicular to the fractures. In this paper, we extend the model to all propagation angles by assuming that the flow direction is perpendicular to the layering plane and is independent of the loading direction. We first consider the limiting cases through poroelastic Backus averaging, and then we obtain the five complex and frequency‐dependent stiffness values of the equivalent transversely isotropic medium as a function of the frequency. The numerical results show that, when the bulk modulus of the fracture‐filling fluid is relatively large, the dispersion and attenuation of P‐waves are mainly caused by fractures, and the values decrease as angles increase, almost vanishing when the incidence angle is 90° (propagation parallel to the fracture plane). While the bulk modulus of fluid in fractures is much smaller than that of matrix pores, the attenuation due to the “partial saturation” mechanism makes the fluid flow from pores into fractures, which is almost independent of the incidence angle.

Real time drilling mud gas response to small-moderate earthquakes in Wenchuan earthquake Scientific Drilling Hole-1 in SW China

We investigated the real time drilling mud gas of the Wenchuan earthquake Fault Scientific Drilling Hole-1 and their responses to 3918 small-moderate aftershocks happened in the Longmenshan fault zone. Gas profiles for Ar, CH4, He, 222Rn, CO2, H2, N2, O2 are obtained. Seismic wave amplitude, energy density and static strain are calculated to evaluate their power of influence to the drilling site. Mud gases two hours before and after each earthquake are carefully analyzed. In total, 25 aftershocks have major mud gas response, the mud gas concentrations vary dramatically immediately or minutes after the earthquakes. Different gas species respond to earthquakes in different manners according to local lithology encountered during the drill. The gas variations are likely controlled by dynamic stress changes, rather than static stress changes. They have the seismic energy density between 10−5 and 1.0J/m3 whereas the static strain are mostly less than 10−8. We suggest that the limitation of the gas sources and the high hydraulic diffusivity of the newly ruptured fault zone could have inhibited the drilling mud gas behaviors, they are only able to respond to a small portion of the aftershocks. This work is important for the understanding of earthquake related hydrological changes.

Numerical Study on the Seismic Response of Structure with Consideration of the Behavior of Base Mat Uplift

The foundation might be separated from the supporting soil if the earthquake is big enough, which is known as base mat uplift. This paper proposed a simplified calculation model in which spring element is adopted to simulate the interaction between soil and structure. The load-deformation curve (F-Dcurve) of the spring element can be designated to represent the base mat uplift, in which the pressure can be applied while tensile forces are not allowed. Key factors, such as seismic wave types, seismic wave excitation directions, seismic wave amplitudes, soil shear velocities, structure stiffness, and the ratio of structure height to width (H/B), were considered in the analysis. It is shown that (1) seismic wave type has significant influence on structure response due to different frequency components it contained; (2) the vertical input of seismic wave greatly affected structure response in vertical direction, while it has little impacts in horizontal direction; (3) base mat uplift is easier to take place in soil with higher shear velocity; (4) structureH/Bvalue has complicated influence on base mat uplift. The outcome of this research is assumed to provide some references for the seismic design of the structure due to base mat uplift.

Seismic Response Analysis of Concrete Lining Structure in Large Underground Powerhouse

Based on the dynamic damage constitutive model of concrete material and seismic rock‐lining structure interaction analysis method, the seismic response of lining structure in large underground powerhouse is studied in this paper. In order to describe strain rate dependence and fatigue damage of concrete material under cyclic loading, a dynamic constitutive model for concrete lining considering tension and shear anisotropic damage is presented, and the evolution equations of damage variables are derived. The proposed model is of simple form and can be programmed into finite element procedure easily. In order to describe seismic interaction characteristics of the surrounding rock and lining, an explicit dynamic contact analysis method considering bond and damage characteristics of contact face between the surrounding rock and lining is proposed, and this method can integrate directly without iteration. The proposed method is applied to seismic stability calculation of Yingxiuwan Underground Powerhouse, results reveal that the amplitude and duration of input seismic wave determine the damage degree of lining structure, the damage zone of lining structure is mainly distributed in its arch, and the contact face damage has great influence on the stability of the lining structure.

Regional long-period magnitude scales and their capabilities for tsunami warning

The tsunami warning system in the Russian Far East employs the medium-period magnitude MS (BB) by Vaniek–Soloviev. However, its use may lead to inadequacies and underestimates for the tsunamigenic potential of an earthquake. Specifically, this can happen in the case of a so-called tsunami–earthquake. This kind of earthquakes with a nonstandard spectrum was revealed by H. Kanamori in 1972. This problem can be overcome by using a magnitude scale that deals with longer period seismic waves. This study develops a technique for determining the magnitudes at regional distances (from 70 to 4500 km) using the amplitudes of surface seismic waves of periods of 40 and 80 s. At distances of 70–250 km, the amplitude of the joint group of shear and surface waves is used. For the new magnitudes designated M S(40) and M S(80), experimental calibration curves are constructed using more than 1250 three-component records at 12 stations of the region. The magnitudes are calibrated so as to produce an unbiased estimate of the moment magnitude M w in the critical range 7.5–8.8. The rms error of the single-station estimate M w is around 0.27. At distances below 250 km and M w ≥ 8.3, the estimate of M w obtained by the proposed technique becomes saturated at the level of M w ~ 8.3, which is acceptable for operative analysis because no missed alarms arise. The technique can be used in operational tsunami warning based on seismological data. This can markedly decrease the number of false alarms.

The thermal structure of cratonic lithosphere from global Rayleigh wave attenuation

The resolution of and level of agreement between different attenuation models have historically been limited by complexities associated with extracting attenuation from seismic-wave amplitudes, which are also affected by the source, the receiver, and propagation through velocity heterogeneities. For intermediate- and long-period Rayleigh waves, removing the amplitude signal due to focusing and defocusing effects is the greatest challenge. In this paper, three independent data sets of fundamental-mode Rayleigh wave amplitude are analyzed to investigate how three factors contribute to discrepancies between the attenuation models: uncertainties in the amplitude measurements themselves, variable path coverage, and the treatment of focusing effects. Regionalized pure-path and fully two-dimensional attenuation models are derived and compared. The approach for determining attenuation models from real data is guided by an analysis of amplitudes measured from synthetic spectral-element waveforms, for which the input Earth model is perfectly known. The results show that differences in the amplitude measurements introduce only very minor differences between the attenuation models; path coverage and the removal of focusing effects are more important. The pure-path attenuation values exhibit a clear dependence on tectonic region at shorter periods that disappears at long periods, in agreement with pure-path phase-velocity results obtained by inverting Rayleigh wave phase delays. The 2-D attenuation maps are highly correlated with each other to spherical-harmonic degree 16 and can resolve smaller features than the previous generation of global attenuation models. Anomalously low attenuation is nearly perfectly associated with continental cratons. Variations in lithospheric thickness are determined by forward modeling the global attenuation variations as a thermal boundary layer of variable thickness. Temperature profiles that satisfy the attenuation values systematically overpredict and underpredict Rayleigh wave phase velocity in cratons at short and long periods, respectively. Introducing a low-velocity layer at depths 60–80 km and a high-velocity layer that begins at 200 km can resolve the discrepancy. The former is consistent with receiver-function detections of a mid-lithospheric discontinuity, and the latter may correspond to the Lehmann discontinuity.

Large scale mechanical metamaterials as seismic shields

Earthquakes represent one of the most catastrophic natural events affecting mankind. At present, a universally accepted risk mitigation strategy for seismic events remains to be proposed. Most approaches are based on vibration isolation of structures rather than on the remote shielding of incoming waves. In this work, we propose a novel approach to the problem and discuss the feasibility of a passive isolation strategy for seismic waves based on large-scale mechanical metamaterials, including for the first time numerical analysis of both surface and guided waves, soil dissipation effects, and adopting a full 3D simulations. The study focuses on realistic structures that can be effective in frequency ranges of interest for seismic waves, and optimal design criteria are provided, exploring different metamaterial configurations, combining phononic crystals and locally resonant structures and different ranges of mechanical properties. Dispersion analysis and full-scale 3D transient wave transmission simulations are carried out on finite size systems to assess the seismic wave amplitude attenuation in realistic conditions. Results reveal that both surface and bulk seismic waves can be considerably attenuated, making this strategy viable for the protection of civil structures against seismic risk. The proposed remote shielding approach could open up new perspectives in the field of seismology and in related areas of low-frequency vibration damping or blast protection.

Dynamic Response Differences Between Bedding and Counter-Tilt Rock Slopes with Intercalated Weak Layers

Bedding and counter-tilt rock slope with intercalated weak layers are common geological bodies in west China, the dynamic response research will guide the anti-seismic reinforcement of bedding and counter-tilt rock slope with intercalated weak layer effectively. Two test models of bedding rock slope with intercalated weak layer and counter-tilt rock slope with intercalated weak layer, which are in the same size, have been designed and developed. A large scale shaking table test has been performed to analyze the dynamic response difference of bedding and counter-tilt rock slope with intercalated weak layer. The study results show that the acceleration amplification coefficient inside the bedding slope is smaller than that inside the counter-tilt rock slope; at the middle and upper parts of the slope body (relative height > 0.4), the acceleration amplification coefficient at bedding rock slope surface is larger than that of counter-tilt rock slope. At the lower part of the slope (relative height le 0.4), the acceleration amplification coefficient at bedding rock slope surface is close to that of counter-tilt rock slope. The slope surface displacement of both bedding and counter-tilt rock slopes increases with increasing input seismic wave amplitude. The slope surface displacement of the bedding rock is larger than that of counter-tilt rock slope. The seismic stability of counter-tilt rock slope is stronger than bedding rock slope. The dynamic failure form of bedding rock slope mainly includes vertical tension crack at back edge, bedding sliding along intercalated weak layer and rock collapse at slope crest; whereas the dynamic failure form of counter-tilt slope mainly includes intersection of horizontal and vertical cracks on slope surface, extrusion of intercalated weak layer and shattering of slope crest.

Seismic wave propagation through an in-situ stressed rock mass

This paper presents an analytical study of seismic wave propagation through an in-situ stressed rock mass. The joint deformation is assumed to satisfy the nonlinear Bandis–Barton (B–B) deformational model. The displacement discontinuity method (DDM) is introduced to take account of the effect of in-situ stress. The amplitude- and frequency-dependence of seismic wave propagation through an in-situ stressed rock mass are analyzed. The effects of in-situ stress on seismic attenuation, energy transmission and effective seismic velocity are discussed. The results show that seismic attenuation, energy transmission and effective seismic velocity are influenced by seismic wave amplitude and frequency, and in-situ stress. Moreover, the amplitude- and frequency-dependence of a seismic wave obtained by conventional DDM are special cases when in-situ stress is not considered. The effect of in-situ stress on seismic attenuation, energy transmission and effective seismic velocity can be neglected when either the amplitude or the frequency is sufficiently large. When the frequency is sufficiently small, the effect of in-situ stress on seismic attenuation and energy transmission can also be neglected, but its effect on the effective seismic velocity cannot be ignored.

Impact of water saturation on seismoelectric transfer functions: a laboratory study of coseismic phenomenon

Seismic waves propagating in a porous medium, under favourable conditions, generate measurable electromagnetic fields due to electrokinetic effects. It has been proposed, following experimental and numerical studies, that these so-called ‘seismoelectromagnetic’ couplings depend on pore fluid properties. The theoretical frame describing these phenomena are based on the original Biot's theory, assuming that pores are fluid-filled. We study here the impact of a partially saturated medium on amplitudes of those seismoelectric couplings by comparing experimental data to an effective fluid model. We have built a 1-m-length-scale experiment designed for imbibition and drainage of an homogeneous silica sand; the experimental set-up includes a seismic source, accelerometers, electric dipoles and capacitance probes in order to monitor seismic and seismoelectric fields during water saturation. Apparent velocities and frequency spectra (in the kiloHertz range) are derived from seismic and electrical measurements during experiments in varying saturation conditions. Amplitudes of seismic and seismoelectric waves and their ratios (i.e. transfer functions) are discussed using a spectral analysis performed by continuous wavelet transform. The experiments reveal that amplitude ratios of seismic to coseismic electric signals remain rather constant as a function of the water saturation in the Sw = [0.2–0.9] range, consistently with theoretically predicted transfer functions.

Frequency‐dependent effects of rupture for the 2004 Parkfield main shock, results from UPSAR

AbstractThe frequency‐dependent effects of rupture propagation of the Parkfield, California, earthquake (28 September 2004, M6) to the northwest along the San Andreas Fault can be seen in acceleration records at UPSAR (USGS Parkfield Seismic Array) in at least two ways. First, we can see the effects of directivity in the acceleration traces at UPSAR, which is about 11.5 km from the epicenter. Directivity or the seismic equivalent of a Doppler shift has been documented in many cases by comparing short‐duration, high‐amplitude pulses (P or S) in the forward direction with longer‐duration body waves in the backward direction. In this case we detect a change from a relatively large amplitude, coherent, high‐frequency signal at the start of rupture to a low‐amplitude, low‐coherent, low‐frequency signal at about the time the rupture front transfers from the forward azimuth to the back azimuth at about 34–36 s (time is UTC and is the seconds after day 272 and 17 h and 15 min. S arrival is just after 30 s) for rays leaving the fault and propagating to UPSAR. The frequency change is obvious in the band about 5 to 30 Hz, which is significantly above the corner frequency of the earthquake (about 0.11 Hz). From kinematic source models, the duration of faulting is about 9.2 s, and the change in frequency is during faulting as the rupture extends to the northwest. Understanding the systematic change in frequency and amplitude of seismic waves in relation to the propagation of the rupture front is important for predicting strong ground motion. Second, we can filter the acceleration records from the array to determine if the low‐frequency energy emerges from the same part of the fault as the high‐frequency signal (e.g., has the same back azimuth and apparent velocity at UPSAR), an important clue to the dynamics of rupture. Analysis of sources of strong motion (characterized by relatively high frequencies) compared to kinematic slip models (relatively low frequency) for the 11 March 2011 Tohoku earthquake as well as Maule (27 February 2010) and Chi‐Chi (20 September 1999) earthquakes show that high‐ and low‐frequency sources do not have the same locations on the fault. In this paper we filter the accelerograms from UPSAR for the 2004 main shock in various passbands and then recompute the cross correlations to determine the vector slowness of the incoming waves. At Parkfield, it appears that for seismic waves with frequencies above 1 Hz, there is no discernible frequency‐dependent difference in source position (up to 8 Hz) based on estimates of back azimuth and apparent velocity. However, at lower frequencies, sources appear to be from shallower depths and trail the high frequencies as the rupture proceeds down the fault. This result is greater than one standard deviation of an estimate of error, based on a new method of estimating error that is a measure of how broad the peak in correlation is and an estimate of the variance of the correlation values. These observations can be understood in terms of a rupture front that is more energetic and coherent near the front of rupture (radiating higher frequencies) and less coherent and less energetic (radiating in a lower frequency band) behind the initial rupture front. This result is a qualitative assessment of changes in azimuth and apparent velocity with frequency and time and does not include corrections to find the source location on the fault.