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Seismic Waves in Laterally Inhomogeneous Media pp 1707–1718Cite as

Birkhäuser

Constant Q and a Fractal, Stratified Earth

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Abstract

Frequency-dependent measurements of the quality factorQtypically show a constant behaviour for low frequencies and a positive power-law dependence for higher frequencies. In particular, the constantQpattern is usually explained using intrinsic attenuation models due to anelasticity with either a single or multiple superposed relaxation mechanisms each with a particular resonance peak.

However, in this study, I show using wave localisation theory that a constantQmay also be due to apparent attenuation due to scattering losses. Namely, this phenomenon occurs if the earth displays fractal characteristics. Moreover, if fractal characteristics exist over a limited range of scales only, even an absorption band can be created—in accordance with observations. This indicates that it may be very difficult to distinguish between intrinsic and scattering attenuation on the basis of frequency-dependent measurements of the quality factor only.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Earth Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK

    Mirko Van Der Baan

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  1. Mirko Van Der Baan
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Geophysical Institute, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Boční II, 1401, Praha 4, 14131, Czech Republic

    Ivan Pšenčík

  2. Faculty of Mathematics & Physics Dep. of Geophysics, Charles University, Ke Karlovu 3, Praha 2, 12116, Czech Republic

    Vlastislav Červený

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Van Der Baan, M. (2002). Constant Q and a Fractal, Stratified Earth. In: Pšenčík, I., Červený, V. (eds) Seismic Waves in Laterally Inhomogeneous Media. Pageoph Topical Volumes. Birkhäuser, Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-8146-3_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-8146-3_16

  • Publisher Name: Birkhäuser, Basel

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-7643-6677-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-0348-8146-3

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