Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Near-Fault Broadband Ground Motion Simulation Applications at the Central Ionian Islands, Greece

  • Published:
Pure and Applied Geophysics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Physics-based broadband ground-motion simulations are generated for the strong mainshocks that occurred in the region of the Central Ionian Islands, on 26th January 2014 in Kefalonia (Mw6.1) and 17th November 2015 in Lefkas (Mw6.5). The study area is associated with frequent strong earthquakes both in the historical and instrumental era. During the last decades the network of strong-motion accelerographs in the area has been densified, and thus provided an adequate number of strong ground motion records as a means to better examine the related ground motion characteristics. In the present study, broadband ground motions for the two case studies are simulated both at selected sites and at a dense grid of points covering the affected areas. The low-frequency part of the synthetics is computed using a discrete wavenumber finite element method by convolving Green’s functions with a kinematic slip model in the frequency domain. A stochastic finite fault model approach based on a dynamic corner frequency is considered to calculate the ground motions for the higher frequencies. The broadband synthetic time series are generated after merging the results obtained from the two separate techniques, by performing a weighted summation at intermediate frequencies. The simulated values are validated by comparison with both recorded Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) and Peak Ground Velocity (PGV) values and the estimated ones by using widely accepted Ground Motion Prediction Equations (GMPEs). Our results indicate that both the spatial distribution and the amplification pattern of the simulated ground motions, in the near-field, in terms of PGA and PGV are highly influenced by the slip heterogeneity and the maximum slip patches within the seismic source.

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
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akinci, A., Aochi, H., Herrero, A., Pischiutta, M., & Karanikas, D. (2017). Physics-based broadband ground-motion simulations for probable Mw ≥7:0 earthquakes in the Marmara sea region (Turkey). Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 107, 1307–1323.

    Google Scholar 

  • Akkar, S., & Bommer, J. (2010). Empirical equations for the prediction of PGA, PGV, and spectral accelerations in Europe, the Mediterranean region, and the middle east. Seismological Research Letters, 81, 195–206.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, J., & Hough, S. (1984). A model for the shape of the Fourier amplitude spectrum of acceleration at high frequencies. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 74, 1969–1993.

    Google Scholar 

  • Apostolidis, P. (2002). Determination of the soil structure using microtremors. Application to the estimation of the dynamic properties and the geometry of the soil formations at Thessaloniki city. PhD Thesis (in Greek), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 315 p

  • Assatourians, K., Atkinson, G. (2012). EXSIM12: a Stochastic Finite- Fault Computer Program in FORTRAN. http://www.seismotoolbox.ca (last accessed November 2014)

  • Avallone, A., Cirella, A., Cheloni, D., Tolomei, C., Theodoulidis, N., Piatanesi, A., Briole, P., & Ganas, A. (2017). Near-source high-rate GPS, strong motion and InSAR observations to image the 2015 Lefkada (Greece) Earthquake rupture history. Scientific Reports, 7, 10358.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boore, D. (1983). Stochastic simulation of high-frequency ground motions based on seismological models of the radiated spectra. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 73, 1865–1894.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boore, D. (2003). Prediction of ground motion using the stochastic method. Pure and Applied Geophysics, 160, 635–676.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boore, D. M. (2009). Comparing stochastic point-source and finite-source ground-motion simulations: SMSIM and EXSIM. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 99(6), 3202–3216.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boore, D. M., Stewart, J. P., Seyhan, E., & Atkinson, G. M. (2014). NGA-West2 equations for predicting PGA, PGV, and 5% damped PSA for shallow crustal earthquakes. Earthquake Spectra, 30(3), 1057–1085.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boore, D. M., Stewart, J. P., Skarlatoudis, A. A., Seyhan, E., Margaris, B., Theodoulidis, N., Scordilis, E., Kalogeras, I., Klimis, N., & Melis, N. S. (2020). A Ground-motion prediction model for shallow crustal earthquakes in Greece. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 111(2), 857–874.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chousianitis, K., Konca, A. O., Tselentis, G.-A., Papadopoulos, G., & Gianniou, M. (2016). Slip model of the 17 November 2015 Mw = 6.5 Lefkada earthquake from the joint inversion of geodetic and seismic data. Geophysical Research Letters, 43, 7973–7981.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clément, C., Hirn, A., Charvis, P., Sachpazi, M., & Marnelis, F. (2000). Seismic structure and the active Hellenic subduction in the Ionian Islands. Tectonophysics, 329, 141–156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ding, Y., Mavroeidis, G., & Theodoulidis, N. (2019). Simulation of strong ground motion from the 1995 Mw 6.5 Kozani-Grevena, Greece, earthquake using a hybrid deterministic-stochastic approach. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 117, 357–373.

    Google Scholar 

  • Douglas, J., & Aochi, H. (2008). A survey of techniques for predicting earthquake ground motions for engineering purposes. Surveys in Geophysics, 29, 187–220.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ganas, A., Elias, P., Bozionelos, G., Papathanassiou, G., Avallone, A., Papastergios, A., Valkaniotis, S., Parcharidis, I., & Briole, P. (2016). Coseismic deformation, field observations and seismic fault of the 17 November 2015 M = 6.5, Lefkada Island, Greece Earthquake. Tectonics, 687, 210–222.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardner, G., Gardner, W., & Gregory, R. (1974). Formation velocity and density—the diagnostic basics for stratigraphic traps. Geophysics, 39, 770–780.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein, P., Dodge, D., Firpo, M., and Minner, L. (2003). “SAC2000: Signal processing and analysis tools for seismologists and engineers, Invited contribution to “The IASPEI International Handbook of Earthquake and Engineering Seismology”, Edited by WHK Lee, H. Kanamori, P.C. Jennings, and C. Kisslinger, Academic Press

  • Goldstein, P., Snoke, A. (2005). “SAC Availability for the IRIS Community”, Incorporated Institutions for Seismology Data Management Center Electronic Newsletter

  • Graves, R. and Pitarka, A. (2004). Broadband time history simulation using a hybrid approach. Proceedings of the 13th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Paper no. 1098

  • Graves, R., & Pitarka, A. (2010). Broadband ground-motion simulation using a hybrid approach. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 100(5A), 2095–2123.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartzell, H. (1978). Earthquake aftershocks as Green’s functions. Geophysical Research Letters, 5, 1–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hatzidimitriou, P. (1995). S-wave attenuation in the crust in Northern Greece. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 85, 1381–1387.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hatzidimitriou, P., Papazachos, C., Kiratzi, A., & Theodulidis, N. (1993). Estimation of attenuation structure and local earthquake magnitude based on acceleration records in Greece. Tectonophysics, 217, 243–253.

    Google Scholar 

  • Irikura, K. (1986). Prediction of strong acceleration motion using empirical Green’s function. Proceedings of the 7th Japan Earthquake Engineering Symposium, 151–156

  • Irikura, K., & Miyake, H. (2011). Recipe for predicting strong ground motion from crustal earthquake scenarios. Pure and Applied Geophysics, 168, 85–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanamori, H., & Anderson, D. (1975). Theoretical basis of some empirical relations in seismology. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 65, 1073–1095.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karakostas, V., Papadimitriou, E., Mesimeri, M., Gkarlaouni, C., & Paradisopoulou, P. (2015). The 2014 Kefalonia doublet (M w 6.1 and M w 6.0), central Ionian islands, Greece: seismotectonic implications along the Kefalonia transform fault zone. Acta Geophysica, 63, 1–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karakostas, V., Papadimitriou, E., & Papazachos, C. (2004). Properties of the 2003 Lefkada, Ionian islands, Greece, Earthquake seismic sequence and seismicity triggering. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 94(5), 1976–1981.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karastathis, V., Mouzakiotis, A., Ganas, A., & Papadopoulos, G. (2015). High-precision relocation of seismic sequences above a dipping Moho: the case of the January–February 2014 seismic sequence on Cephalonia Island (Greece). Solid Earth, 6, 173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kassaras, I., Kalantoni, D., Benetatos, Ch., Kaviris, G., Michalaki, K., Sakellariou, N., & Makropoulos, K. (2015). Seismic damage scenarios in Lefkas old town (W. Greece). Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, 13, 3669–3711.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiratzi, A., & Langston, C. (1991). Moment tensor inversion of the 1983 January 17 Kefallinia event of Ionian islands (Greece). Geophysical Journal International, 105, 529–538.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiratzi, A., Roumelioti, Z., Makra, K., Klimis, N., and Koskosidi, A. (2019). Hybrid broadband seismic ground motions: application to the city of Edessa in northern Greece. 7th International Conference on Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering (VII ICEGE), 17–20 June 2019

  • Klimis, N., Margaris, B., & Koliopoulos, P. (1999). Site dependent amplification functions and response spectra in Greece. Journal of Earthquake Engineering, 3(2), 237–247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leventakis, A. (2003). Microzonation study of the city of Thessaloniki, PhD, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 84 p

  • Louvari, E., Kiratzi, A. A., & Papazachos, B. C. (1999). The Cephalonia transform Fault and its extension to western Lefkada Island (Greece). Tectonophysics, 308, 223–236.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mai, P. M. (2009). Ground motion: complexity and scaling in the near field of earthquake ruptures, Encyclopedia of Complexity and Systems Science, Springer, 4435–4474

  • Mai, M., & Beroza, C. (2003). A hybrid method for calculating nearsource, broadband seismograms: application to strong motion prediction. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 137(1), 183–199.

    Google Scholar 

  • Makropoulos, K., Kaviris, G., & Kouskouna, V. (2012). An updated and extended earthquake catalogue for Greece and adjacent areas since 1900. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 12, 1425–1430.

    Google Scholar 

  • Margaris, B. N., & Boore, D. M. (1998). Determination of Δσ and κ0 from response spectra of large earthquakes in Greece. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 88, 170–182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Margaris, B., & Hatzidimitriou, P. (2002). Source spectral scaling and stress release estimates using strong-motion records in Greece. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 92, 1040–1059.

    Google Scholar 

  • McKenzie, D. (1978). Some remarks on the development of sedimentary basins. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 40, 25–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mena, B., Mai, P., Olsen, K., Purvance, M., & Brune, J. (2010). Hybrid broadband ground-motion simulation using scattering Green’s functions: application to large-magnitude events. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 100, 2143–2162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Millas, Ch. (2018). Slip distribution of large earthquakes In Greece, MSc Thesis, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 74p

  • Millas, Ch., Kaviris, G., Karakostas, V., and Papadimitriou, P. (2018). Slip distribution and resulting surface deformation assessment of strong earthquakes in Greece. Abstract, 36th ESC General Assembly, ESC2018-S19-573

  • Motazedian, D., & Atkinson, G. M. (2005). Stochastic finite-fault modeling based on a dynamic corner frequency. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 95, 995–1010.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mouzakiotis, E. (2015). Seismic hazard assessment using the method of stochastic simulation of strong ground motion, MSc Thesis, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 155p

  • Olson, A., Orcutt, J., & Frazier, G. (1984). The discrete wavenumber / finite element method for synthetic seismograms. Geophysical Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society, 77, 421–460.

    Google Scholar 

  • Panou, A., Theodoulidis, N., Hatzidimitriou, P., Stylianidis, K., & Papazachos, C. (2005). Ambient noise horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio in site effects estimation and correlation with seismic damage distribution in urban environment: the case of the city of Thessaloniki (Northern Greece). Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 25, 261–274.

    Google Scholar 

  • Papadimitriou, E. (2002). Mode of strong earthquake recurrence in the central Ionian Islands (Greece): possible triggering due to Coulomb stress changes generated by the occurrence of previous strong shocks. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 92(8), 3293–3308.

    Google Scholar 

  • Papadimitriou, E., Karakostas, V., Mesimeri, M., Chouliaras, G., & Kourouklas, Ch. (2017). The Mw6.5 17 November 2015 Lefkada (Greece) earthquake: structural interpretation by means of the aftershock analysis. Pure and Applied Geophysics, 174, 3869–3888.

    Google Scholar 

  • Papadimitriou, P. (1988). Etude de la structure du manteau superieur de l’ Europe et modelisation des ondes de volume engendrees par des seismes Egeens. Phd Thesis, University Paris, 211p

  • Papadimitriou, P., Karakonstantis, A., Bozionelos, G., Kapetanidis, V., Kaviris, G., Spingos, I., Millas, Ch., Kassaras, I., and Voulgaris, N. (2015). Preliminary report on the Lefkada 17 November 2015 Mw=6.4 earthquake, 12p

  • Papadopoulos, G., Karastathis, V., Koukouvelas, I., Sachpazi, M., Baskoutas, I., Chouliaras, G., Agalos, A., Daskalaki, E., Minadakis, G., Moshou, A., Mouzakiotis, A., Orfanogiannaki, K., Papageorgiou, A., Spanos, D., and Triantafyllou, I. (2014). The Cephalonia, Ionian Sea (Greece), sequence of strong earthquakes of January-February 2014: a first report. Research in Geophysics, 4(1).

  • Papathanassiou, G., Valkaniotis, S., Ganas, A., Grendas, N., & Kollia, E. (2017). The November 17th, 2015 Lefkada (Greece) strike-slip earthquake: field mapping of generated failures and assessment of macroseismic intensity ESI-07. Engineering Geology, 220, 13–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Papazachos, B., & Comninakis, P. (1969). 1970, Geophysical features of the Greek Island Arc and Eastern Mediterranean ridge. Comptes Rendus Des Seances De La Conference Reunie a Madrid, 16, 74–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Papazachos, B. C., Papadimitriou, E., Kiratzi, A., Papazachos, C. B., & Louvari, E. (1998). Fault plane solutions in the Aegean sea and the surrounding area and their tectonic implication. Bolletino Di Geofisica Teorica Ed Applicata, 39(3), 199–218.

    Google Scholar 

  • Papazachos, B. C., & Papazachou, C. B. (2003). The earthquakes of Greece (p. 273). Ziti publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pischiutta, M., Akinci, A., Tinti, E., & Herrero, A. (2020). Broadband ground-motion simulation of 2016 Amatrice earthquake Central Italy. Geophysical Journal International. https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggaa412

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pitarka, A., Graves, R., Irikura, K., Miyakoshi, K., & Rodgers, A. (2020). Kinematic rupture modeling of ground motion from the M7 Kumamoto, Japan earthquake. Pure and Applied Geophysics, 177, 2199–2221.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodgers, A. J., Pitarka, A., Petersson, N. A., Sjogreen, B., & McCallen, D. (2018). Broadband (0–4 Hz) ground motions for a magnitude 7.0 Hayward Fault earthquake with 3D structure and topography. Geophysical Research Letters, 45, 739–747.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roumelioti, Z., Kiratzi, A., Margaris, B., & Chatzipetros, A. (2016). Simulation of strong ground motion on near-fault rock outcrop for engineering purposes: the case of the city of Xanthi (Northern Greece). Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, 15, 25–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scordilis, M., Karakaisis, G., Karakostas, V., Panagiotopoulos, D. G., Comninakis, P. E., & Papazachos, B. C. (1985). Evidence for transform faulting in the Ionian sea: the Cephalonia island earthquake sequence of 1983. Pure and Applied Geophysics, 123, 388–397.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sokos, E., Kiratzi, A., Gallovič, F., Zahradnik, J., Serpetsidaki, A., Plicka, V., Janský, J., Kostelecký, J., & Tselentis, A. (2015). Rupture process of the 2014 Cephalonia, Greece, earthquake doublet (Mw6) as inferred from regional and local seismic data. Tectonophysics, 656, 131–141.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sokos, E., Zahradník, J., Gallovič, F., Serpetsidaki, A., Plicka, V., & Kiratzi, A. (2016). Asperity break after 12 years: the Mw6.4 2015 Lefkada (Greece) earthquake. Geophysical Research Letters, 43, 6137–6145.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spudich, P., & Archuleta, R. (1987). Techniques for earthquake ground motion calculation with applications to source parameterization of finite faults. Seismic Strong Motion Synthetics, 37, 205–265.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spudich, P., Xu, L. (2002) Documentation of Software Package Compsyn sxv3.11: programs for earthquake ground motion calculation using complete 1-D Green’s functions. International Handbook of Earthquake and Engineering Seismology, 1200p

  • Theodoulidis, N., Karakostas, C., Lekidis, V., Makra, K., Margaris, B., Morfidis, K., Papaioannou, Ch., Rovithis, E., Salonikios, T., & Savvaidis, A. (2016). The Cephalonia, Greece, January 26 (M6.1) and February 3, 2014 (M6.0) earthquakes: near-fault ground motion and effects on soil and structures. Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, 14, 1–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Triantafyllidis, P., Theodulidis, N., Savvaidis, A., and Dimitriou, P. (2006) Site effects estimation using earthquake and ambient noise data: the case of Lefkas town. Proceedings of the First European conference on earthquake engineering and seismology. Geneva, 3–8 Sept 2006, paper no. 1249

  • Valkaniotis, S., Ganas, A., Papathanassiou, G., & Papanikolaou, M. (2014). Field observations of geological effects triggered by the January-February 2014 Cephalonia (Ionian Sea, Greece) earthquakes. Tectonophysics, 630, 150–157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wessel, P., Smith, W. H. F., Scharroo, R., Luis, J., & Wobbe, F. (2013). Generic mapping tools: improved version released. EOS Transactions, 94(45), 409–410.

    Google Scholar 

  • Withers, K., Olsen, K., Day, S., & Shi, Z. (2018). ground motion and intraevent variability from 3D deterministic Broad530 band (0–7.5 Hz) simulations along a nonplanar strike-slip fault. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 109, 229–250.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zahradnik, J., Sokos, E. (2015). Lefkada 17/11/2015, Mw 6.4 event: Quick estimate of source complexity. Report sent to EMSC on 22/11/2015, 11p

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Prof J. Julia for the editorial assistance and Dr S. Hok for the constructive and detailed comments that contributed to the significant improvement of the manuscript. The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest. Pavlos Bonatis (Geophysics Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) was at the INGV in Rome, Italy, supported by the Erasmus + traineeship grant when a substantial part of this study was conducted. The seismicity data were provided by the bulletins of the Seismological Station of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (http://seismology.geo.auth.gr/ss/). Acceleration time histories were provided by ITSAK (Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Seismology; http://www.itsak.gr) and NOA (National Observatory of Athens; http://bbnet.gein.noa.gr/HL). Some figures were created using the Generic Mapping Tools version 4.5.3 (Wessel et al., 2013). Plots and some figures were created with Grapher version 10 (http://www.GoldenSoftware.com) The LF ground motion simulations were performed using COMPSYN sxv3.11 (Spudich & Xu, 2002). The HF ground motion simulations were carried out using the EXSIM_DMB code (http://www.daveboore.com/ software_online.html). Seismic signal analysis was performed using SAC (Seismic Analysis Code) version 101.6 (Goldstein et al., 2003; Goldstein & Snoke, 2005). Geophysics Department Contribution 952.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geophysics Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Pavlos Bonatis, Vasileios Karakostas & Eleftheria Papadimitriou

  2. Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Via di Vigna Murata 605, 00143, Rome, Italy

    Aybige Akinci

  3. Department of Geophysics and Geothermics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, 15784, Zografou, Greece

    George Kaviris

Authors
  1. Pavlos Bonatis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Aybige Akinci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Vasileios Karakostas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Eleftheria Papadimitriou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. George Kaviris
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pavlos Bonatis.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 663 KB)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bonatis, P., Akinci, A., Karakostas, V. et al. Near-Fault Broadband Ground Motion Simulation Applications at the Central Ionian Islands, Greece. Pure Appl. Geophys. 178, 3505–3527 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-021-02825-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-021-02825-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation