Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Assessing shear wave velocity profiles using multiple passive techniques of Shillong region of northeast India

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Natural Hazards Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Shillong region of northeast India falls under seismic zone V. Being a commercial hub, urbanization in this study region is at its peak. In order to qualitatively assess the subsurface velocity profiling of this area, we have blended two robust techniques, namely spatial autocorrelation (SPAC) and frequency wavenumber (FK) method. Corresponding to array noise data collected at five sites, situated in the close proximity of boreholes, we have evaluated VS and VP as well. The shear wave velocity estimates yielded by these techniques are found to be consistent with each other. The computed Vs values up to depth of 30 m are observed to be in the range of 275–375 m/s, in most of the sites which implies prevalence of low-velocity zone at some pocket areas. The estimates so found are systematically analyzed and implications are outlined. The results were corroborated by substantial evidence of site geology as well as geotechnical information.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aki K (1957) Space and time spectra of stationary waves with special reference to micro tremors. Bull. Earth. Res. Inst. Univ. Tokyo 35:415–456

    Google Scholar 

  • Asten MW (2006) On bias and noise in passive seismic data from finite circular array data processed using SPAC methods. Geophysics 71(6):V153–V162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Asten MW, Dhu T, Lam N (2004) Optimized array design for microtremor array studies applied to site classification; comparison of results with SCPT logs. In: Proceedings of the 13th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Vancouver, Canada, Paper No. 2903

  • Bard PY (2004) The SESAME project: an overview and main results. In: 13th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, August 2004, Vancouver, Canada, paper No. 2207

  • Bettig B, Bard PY, Scherbaum F, Riepl J, Cotton F, Cornou C, Hatzfeld D (2001) Analysis of dense array noise measurements using the modified spatial auto-correlation method (SPAC): application to the Grenoble area. Boll Geofis Teor Appl 42:281–304

    Google Scholar 

  • Biswas R, Baruah S (2011) Site response estimation by Nakamura method: Shillong City, Northeast India, Memoir of the Geophysical Society of India, No. 77, 173–183

  • Biswas R, Baruah S (2015) Non-linear earthquake site response analysis: a case study in Shillong City. IJEHRM (3:4)

  • Biswas R, Baruah S (2016) Shear wave velocity estimates through combined use of two passive techniques of a tectonically active area. Acta Geophys (64/6)

  • Biswas R, Bora DK, Baruah S, Kalita A, Baruah S (2013a) The effects of attenuation and site on the spectra of microearthquakes in the Shillong Region of Northeast India. Pure Appl Geophys 170(11):1833–1848

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biswas R, Bora DK, Baruah S (2013b) Influence of attenuation and site effects in the spectra of micro earthquakes originating in Shillong City, NER, and India. Acta Geophys 61:886–904

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biswas R, Baruah S, Baruah S (2014) A brief overview of site response estimation techniques. Mistral Services: Italy, ISBN: 978-88-98161-25-6

  • Biswas R, Bora DK, Baruah S (2015) Mapping sediment thickness in Shillong City of northeast India. J Earthq. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/572619

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biswas R, Bora N, Baruah S (2018) Frequency dependent site response inferred from microtremors accompanied by ambient noise. Phys Astron Int J 2(4):273–277. https://doi.org/10.15406/paij.2018.02.00098

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boore DM, Asten MW (2008) Comparisons of shear-wave slowness in the Santa Clara Valley, California, using blind interpretations of data from invasive and noninvasive methods. Bull Seismol Soc Am 98(4):1983–2003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borcherdt RD (1970) Effects of local geology on ground motion near San Francisco Bay. Bull Seismol Soc Am 60:29–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Bozdag E, Kocaoglu AH (2005) Estimation of site amplification from shear wave velocity profiles in Yesilyurt and Avcilar, Istanbul by frequency-wavenumber analysis of microtremors. J Seismol 9:87–98

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell KW (1976) A note on the distribution of earthquake damage in Long Beach, 1933. Bull Seismol Soc Am 86:1001–1006

    Google Scholar 

  • Chattopadhaya N, Hashimi S (1984) The Sung valley alkaline ultramafic carbonatite complex, East Khasi Hills district, Meghalaya. Rec Geol Surv India 113:24–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Chávez-García FJ, Rodríguez M, Stephenson WR (2006) Subsoil structure using SPAC measurements along a line. Bull Seismol Soc Am 96(2):729–736

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cho I, Tada T, Shinozaki Y (2004) Suggestion and theoretical evaluations on the performance of a new method to extract phase velocities of Rayleigh waves from microtremor seismograms obtained with a circular array. In: 13th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Paper No. 647

  • Claprood M, Asten MW (2007a) Use of SPAC, HVSR and strong motion analysis for site hazard study over the Tamar Valley in Launceston, Tasmania. In: Earthquake Engineering in Australia Conference

  • Claprood M, Asten MW (2007b) Combined use of SPAC, FK and HVSR microtremor survey methods for site hazard study over the Tamar Valley in Launceston, Tasmania. In: Extended abstracts of the ASEG 19th Geophysical Conference and Exhibition, Perth

  • Claprood M, Asten MW (2010) Statistical validity control on SPAC microtremor observations recorded with a restricted number of sensors. Bull Seismol Soc Am 100(2):776–791

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cornou C, Bard P-Y, Dietrich M (2003) Contribution of dense array analysis to the identification and quantification of basin-edge-induced waves, part I: methodology. Bull Seismol Soc Am 93:2604–2623

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dasgupta A, Biswas A (2000) Geology of Assam. Geol Soc India, Bangalore

    Google Scholar 

  • Di Giulio G, Cornou C, Ohrnberger M, Wathelet M, Rovelli A (2006) Deriving wavefield characteristics and shear velocity profiles from two dimensional small aperture arrays analysis of ambient vibrations in a small size alluvial basin, Colfiorito, Italy. Bull Seismol Soc Am 96:1915–1933

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fäh D, Kind F, Giardini D (2003) Investigation of local S-wave velocity structures from average H/V ratios, and their use for the estimation of site effects. J Seismol 7:449–467

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garcia-Jerez A, Navarro M, Alcala FJ, Luzon F, Perez Ruiz JA, Enomoto T, Vidal F, Ocana E (2007) Shallow velocity structure using joint inversion of array and h/v Spectral ratio of ambient noise, The case of Mula Town (SE of Spain). Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 27:907–919

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • GSI (1985) Geology mapping in greater Shillong area, Meghalaya. Memoir Geolog. Surv. India

  • Hartzell SH, Liu P, Mendoza C (1996) The 1994 Northridge, California earthquake: investigation of rupture velocity, rise time, and high-frequency radiation. J Geophys Res 101, 20, 091-20,108

  • Imai T, Tonouchi K (1982) Correlation of N-value with S-wave velocity and shear modulus. In: Proceedings 2nd European Symposium on Penetration Testing Amsterdam, pp 57–72

  • Kalita BC (1998) Ground water prospects of Shillong Urban Aglomerate. Unpublished report. Central Ground Water Board, Meghalaya

  • Kassaras I, Kalantoni D, Benetatos Ch, Kaviris G, Michalaki K, Sakellariou N, Makropoulos K (2015) Seismic damage scenarios in Lefkas old town (W. Greece). Earth Eng, Bull. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-015-9789-z

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Kayal JR (2008) Microearthquake seismology and seismotectonics of South Asia. Springer, Berlin, pp 273–275

    Google Scholar 

  • Kayal JR, Arefiev SS, Baruah S, Hazarika D, Gogoi N, Kumar A, Chowdhury SN, Kalita S (2006) Shillong Plateau Earthquakes in northeast India region: complex tectonic model. Curr Sci 91:109–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Köhler A, Ohrnberger M, Scherbaum F, Wathelet M, Cornou C (2007) Assessing the reliability of the modified three-component spatial autocorrelation technique. Geophys J Int 168:779–796

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kvaerna T, Ringdahl F (1986) Stability of various fk-estimation techniques. In: Semiannual Technical Summary, 1 October 1985–31 March 1986. In: NORSAR Scientific Report, 1-86/87, Kjeller, Norway, 29-40

  • Lay T, Wallace TC (2001) Modern global seismology. Academic Press, San Diego

    Google Scholar 

  • Louie LN (2001) Faster, better: shear wave velocity to 100 meters depth from refraction microtremor arrays. Bull Seismol Soc Am 91:347–364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitra S, Mitra C (2001) Tectonic setting of the precambrians of the northeastern India, Meghalaya Plateau, and age of Shillong group of rocks. Geol Surv India Spec Publ 64:653–658

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohnberger M, Schissele E, Cornou C, Wathelet M, Savvaidis A, Scherbaum F, Jongmans D, Kind F (2004a) Microtremor array measurements for site effect investigations: comparison of analysis methods for field data crosschecked by simulated wavefields, Paper No. 0940, XIII World conference on Earthquake Engineering, Vancouver, BC, Canada, 1–6 August 2004

  • Ohnberger M, Scherbaum F, Krüger F, Pelzing R, Reamer S-K (2004b) How good are shear wave velocity models obtained from inversion of ambient vibrations in the Lower Rhine Embayment (NW-Germany). Boll Geof Teor Appl 45(3):215–232

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohta Y, Goto N (1978) Empirical shear wave velocity equations in terms of soil characteristics soil indexes. Earthq Eng Struct Dyn 6:167–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Okada H (2006) Theory of efficient array observations of microtremors with special reference to the SPAC method. Explor Geophys 37(1):73–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Papadopoulou-Vrynioti K, Bathrellos GD, Skilodimou HD, Kaviris G, Makropoulos K (2013) Karst collapse susceptibility mapping considering peak ground acceleration in a rapidly growing urban area. Eng Geol 158:77–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pavlou K, Kaviris G, Chousianitis K, Drakatos G, Kouskouna V, Makropoulos K (2013) Seismic hazard assessment in Polyphyto Dam area (NW Greece) and its relation with the unexpected earthquake of 13 May 1995 (Ms = 6.5, NW Greece). Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci

  • Picozzi M, Parolai S, Albarello D (2005) Statistical analysis of noise horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios (HVSR). Bull Seismol Soc Am 95(5):1779–1786

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rao JM, Purnachandra Rao GVS (2008) Geology, geochemistry and palaeomagnetic study of Cretaceous Mafic Dykes of Shillong Plateau and their evolutionary history Indian Dykes. Geochem Geophys Geomorphol 589–607

  • Raptakis D, Makra K (2010) Shear wave velocity structure in western Thessaloniki (Greece) using mainly alternative SPAC method. Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 30:202–214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rayhani MHT, El Naggar MH, Tabatabi SH (2008) Nonlinear analysis of local site effects on seismic ground response in the Bam earthquake. Geotech Geol Eng 21(1):91–100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts J, Asten MW (2008) A study of near source effects in array-based (SPAC) microtremor surveys. Geophys J Int 174(1):159–177. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246X.2008.03729.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sambridge M (1999a) Geophysical inversion with a neighborhood algorithm-I. Searching a parameter space. Geophys J Int 138:479–494

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sambridge M (1999b) Geophysical inversion with a neighborhood algorithm-II. Appraising the ensemble. Geophys J Int 138:727–746

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sar SN (1973) An interim report on ground water exploration in the Greater Shillong area, Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya: Memo report, Central Ground Water Board

  • Scherbaum F, Hinzen KG, Ohrnberger M (2003) Determination of shallow shear wave velocity profiles in the Cologne, Germany area using ambient vibrations. Geophys J Int 152:597–612

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seligson CD (1970) Comments on high-resolution frequency wavenumber spectrum. Anal Proc IEEE 58:947–949

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SESAME (2004) Guidelines for the implementation of the H/V spectral ratio technique on ambient vibrations measurements, processing and interpretation. SESAME European Research ProjectWP12-Deliverable D23.12

  • Srinivasan P, Sen S, Bandopadhaya PC (1996) Study of variation of Paleocene-Eocene sediments in the shield areas of Shillong Plateau. Rec Geol Surv India 129:77–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Tokimatsu K (1997) Geotechnical site characterization using surface waves. In: Ishihara (ed) Proc. 1st Intl. Conf. Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering. Balkema, pp 1333–1368

  • Tokimatsu K, Shinzawa K, Kuwayama S (1992) Use of short-period micro tremors for Vs profiling. J Geotech Eng 118(10):1554–1558

    Google Scholar 

  • Wathelet M, Jongmans D, Ohrnberger M (2004) Surface-wave inversion using a direct search algorithm and its application to ambient vibration measurements. Near Surf Geophys 2:211–221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wathelet M, Jongmans D, Ohrnberger M (2005) Direct inversion of spatial autocorrelation curves with the neighborhood algorithm. Bull Seismol Soc Am 95(5):1787–1800. https://doi.org/10.1785/0120040220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams RA, Stephenson WJ, Odum JK (2003) Comparison of P-and S-wave velocity profiles obtained from surface seismic refraction/reflection and downhole data. Tectonophysics 368(1):71–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woods JW, Lintz PL (1973) Plane waves at small arrays. Geophysics 38:1023–1041

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamanaka H (1998) Geophysical explorations of sedimentary structures and their characterization. In: Irikura K, Kudo K, Okada H, Sasatani T (eds) Second international symposium on the effects of surface geology on seismic motion, vol 1, pp 15–33

  • Yamanaka H, Dravinski M, Kagami H (1993) Continuous measurements of microtremors on sediments and basement in Los Angeles, California. Bull Seismol Soc Am 83–5:1595–1609

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamanaka H, Takemura M, Ishida H, Niwa M (1994) Characteristics of long-period microtremors and their applicability in exploration of deep sedimentary layers. Bull Seismol Soc Am 84–6:1831–1841

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geophysical Lab, Department of Physics, Tezpur University, Napaam, Tezpur, Assam, 784028, India

    Rajib Biswas & Nilutpal Bora

  2. Geoscience Division, C.S.I.R-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat, Assam, 785006, India

    S. Baruah

Authors
  1. Rajib Biswas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Baruah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Nilutpal Bora
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rajib Biswas.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (PDF 10 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Biswas, R., Baruah, S. & Bora, N. Assessing shear wave velocity profiles using multiple passive techniques of Shillong region of northeast India. Nat Hazards 94, 1023–1041 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-018-3453-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-018-3453-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation