USING SEISMIC AMBIENT NOISE HORIZONTAL-TO-VERTICAL SPECTRAL RATIO(HVSR) METHOD TO DETECT SITE RESPONSE AND SHALLOW SEDIMENTARY STRUCTURE IN XIONG’AN AREA

doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2024.05.007

Abstract

Abstract:

The construction of the Xiong’an New Area is a national strategy and a long-term plan outlined by the Chinese government. To support the urban planning and development of this area, many scholars have conducted a series of geophysical surveys aimed at understanding the detailed subsurface structure. The Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio(HVSR)method, first introduced by Nakamura, has recently gained widespread use for investigating shallow subsurface structures, site response, and microzonation.

In this study, we utilized a large seismic array with an interstation distance ranging from 500 to 1000 meters, deployed across the Xiong’an New Area. The array consisted of over 900 short-period seismographs, covering most of the area. Using ambient-noise recordings, we removed nonrandom transient signals from the waveform data with a short-term-average over long-term-average detector automatic picking algorithm, and applied the Konno-Ohmachi algorithm to smooth the HVSR curves. For each site, we analyzed the amplitude of the peak value of the HVSR curve(A)and the corresponding frequency(f₀). Both parameters were further elaborated through the creation of contour maps using the Kriging interpolation method. Additionally, the peak frequencies from the HVSR curves were used to calculate the sedimentary thickness, based on an average shear-wave velocity and the frequency-depth formula.

The frequency map shows that the peak frequencies range between 0.6 and 1.1Hz, with an overall peak frequency of about 0.7 to 1.0Hz. The lowest frequencies were found predominantly in the vast eastern area of the study region, corresponding to geological features such as the Niubei Slope, Niutuozhen High, and Baxian Sag. According to the frequency-depth formula, a lower peak frequency indicates greater sediment depth. The variation in peak frequencies across stations highlights changes in the bedrock interface, which correspond to fault structures depicted on the geological map. Furthermore, high-amplitude areas were mainly located between the Rongxi fault and Rongdong fault, suggesting an impedance contrast between shallow and deeper layers. Stratigraphic profiles reveal that Quaternary and Tertiary sedimentary layers directly overlie the crystalline basement composed of Proterozoic metamorphic rocks. Combined analysis of peak frequency and amplitude aligns well with the available geological data. Our analysis produced 3D depth images of the Quaternary sedimentary layer interface across the study area, clearly imaging a significant seismic impedance interface at depths of 100-220m. This shallow interface corresponds to the contrast between the Tertiary rocks and the overlying Quaternary sedimentary layers. The sediment thickness progressively increases from east to west across the study area. Interfaces derived from the HVSR profiles display similar characteristics to those on the geological map and are consistent with borehole data and results from the high-density resistivity method. Moreover, we established a power-law relationship correlating the fundamental site resonance frequencies with sedimentary cover thickness obtained from borehole data in the Xiong’an New Area. The undulating characteristics of the sedimentary layers correspond closely to fault locations and geological tectonic units, confirming that faults such as the Rongxi, Rongdong, Niuxi, Niudong, and Xushui-Dacheng faults serve as boundaries for secondary geological tectonic units, influencing the structure of the near-surface sedimentary layers.

We developed a 3D shallow subsurface sedimentary model for the Xiong’an New Area and created contour maps of amplitude(A)and peak frequency(f₀). The results both support and extend previous understandings of the region’s structure. This study demonstrates that the HVSR method, in conjunction with a large seismic array, is a rapid and effective technique for investigating shallow subsurface structures and seismic site responses. The exploration of sedimentary structures and seismic site response characteristics, which are closely related to earthquake hazards, provides a critical foundation for seismic fortification and urban planning in the Xiong’an New Area.

Key words: Xiong’an area, HVSR method, shallow sedimentary structure, site characteristics

摘要：

雄安新区建设是国家战略和千年大计, 探查与地震灾害密切相关的沉积结构和地震场地响应特征, 可为雄安地区的城市抗震设防提供重要依据。但该地区相对缺少与场地条件相关的研究, 一些浅部探察结果由于资料覆盖有限, 精度不高。文中利用台间距为1km的短周期密集台阵, 基于HVSR法处理台阵背景噪声, 结果表明: 区域内大部分地区场地的放大系数<5, 场地放大作用不显著; 场地共振频率和沉积层埋深具有明显的分区特征, 西部场地共振频率主要为0.8~1.2Hz, 沉积厚度较薄, 范围为100~160m。中西部场地共振频率主要为0.5~0.8Hz, 沉积层厚度较厚, 范围为160~210m; 三维沉积层模型与钻孔资料、浅层电阻率法的地质解释图基本吻合, 沉积层的起伏特征与断裂带分布、地质构造单元均有较好的对应关系, 结果表明容西断裂、容东断裂、牛西断裂、牛东断裂、徐水-大城断裂作为雄安地区次级地质构造单元边界, 影响了近地表的沉积层结构。文中通过HVSR法得到了雄安地区的场地参数, 如沉积层共振频率、场地放大系数, 以及高精度的近地表三维沉积层模型。上述结果可为雄安地区今后的地震小区划和抗震设防提供重要参考。

关键词: 雄安地区, HVSR法, 浅层沉积层结构, 场地特征

RUAN Ming-ming, LIU Qiao-xia, DUAN Yong-hong, WANG Shuai-jun, ZHENG Cheng-long, WANG Liang. USING SEISMIC AMBIENT NOISE HORIZONTAL-TO-VERTICAL SPECTRAL RATIO(HVSR) METHOD TO DETECT SITE RESPONSE AND SHALLOW SEDIMENTARY STRUCTURE IN XIONG’AN AREA[J]. SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY, 2024, 46(5): 1106-1122.

阮明明, 刘巧霞, 段永红, 王帅军, 郑成龙, 王亮. 地震背景噪声HVSR法探测雄安地区场地响应和浅层沉积结构[J]. 地震地质, 2024, 46(5): 1106-1122.

Figures/Tables 12

Fig. 1 General geological map of Xiong’an area.

Fig. 2 The locations of dense array and the fault distribution in Xiong’an area (WANG Zhu-ting et al., 2019; WANG Kai, 2022).

Fig. 3 The HVSR curve of a single station.

Fig. 4 Schematic diagram showing the relationship between quarter wavelength and thickness of the sediment layer.

Fig. 5 Distribution of amplification coefficient in the study area.

Fig. 6 Distribution of resonance frequency in the study area.

Table 1 Comparison of quaternary buried depth from calculation with HVSR and borehole data in Xiong’an area

钻孔编号	北纬/(°)	东经/(°)	钻孔探测埋深/m	峰值频率/Hz	HVSR计算埋深/m	误差/%
GB014	39.0161	115.7875	135	0.87	140	3.7
GB015	39.0166	115.8338	141	0.81	160	13.4
GB016	39.0171	115.8800	160	0.76	165	3.1
GB017	39.0175	115.9262	166	0.74	167	0.6
GB018	39.0179	115.9724	175	0.73	172	1.7

Fig. 7 Relationship between buried depth of quaternary sediments and resonance frequency in Xiong’an area.

Fig. 8 3D map(a)and contour map(b)of buried depth of Quaternary sediments in the study area.

Fig. 9 Location of stratigraphic profiles, resistivity profiles, and boreholes in the study area.

Fig. 10 Geological profile interpreted from results by resistivity method(adapted from GUO Shu-jun et al., 2021).

Fig. 11 Depth of Quaternary sediments(a) and stratigraphic profile(b) in section AA' (modified after YU Chang-chun et al., 2017).

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