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Proxy-based Vs30 modelling of the Muzaffarabad, northern Pakistan

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Abstract

The time-averaged shear wave velocity in the upper 30 m of soil, also known as Vs30 is the basic criteria employed in the seismic site condition and site response analysis. Vs30 is globally utilized in preparing Seismic Site Characterization Maps (SSCMs) regardless of its considerable limitations. This paper presents the acquisition, and interpretation of 280 real-field Vs30 measurements using a geophysical instrument named Tromino. Models have been derived based on the three proxies i.e., geological age, lithology and topographic slope. Data analysis and statistical approaches show a good correlation between measured Vs30 values with the adopted proxies. The models presented in this work consider topographic slope based on a 30 m resolution digital elevation model (DEM) in addition to the three geological age and four lithological groups. Cross-correlation of the proxies is performed to correlate the proxies for constructing proxy-based models. Proxy performance evaluation is carried out on the basis of residual analysis and the correlation between real-field Vs30 measurements and Vs30 values estimated from proxies is offered to assess the Vs30 predictive capacity of these proxies. The study establishes a strong correlation between measured Vs30 values in densely populated areas and Vs30 values estimated through proxies, suggesting the viability of geological age, lithology, and slope as effective proxies for local-scale Vs30 estimation. The models introduced in the study are assessed for proxy performance, and scatter plots for slope-dependent geological units are provided for further evaluation. The final SSCM (Vs30 map) categorizes the area into National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Programme (NEHRP) site classes which shows that most of the area is prone to amplified seismic response.

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Data availability

Data will be available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

V s30 :

Shear wave velocity in the upper 30 m of soil

SSCMs:

Seismic site characterization maps

DEM:

Digital elevation model

NEHRP:

National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Programme

GMPES:

Ground motion prediction equations

BSSC:

Building Seismic Safety Council

MMT:

Main mantle thrust

MBT:

Main boundary thrust

SRT:

Salt range thrust

HKS:

Hazara Kashmir Syntaxis

MASW:

Multichannel analysis of surface waves

HVSR:

Horizontal to Vertical Spectral Ratio

H/V:

Horizontal to vertical

SH:

Seismic peak frequency in Hz

SRTM:

Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission

GSP:

Geological Survey of Pakistan

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the GIS and Space Applications in Geosciences (GSAG) Laboratory, National Centre of GIS and Space Applications (NCGSA), Pakistan for providing support and the National Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, Pakistan to facilities the conduct the research work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan

    Tanveer Ahmed, Khaista Rehman, Muhammad Shafique, Wajid Ali & Nisar Ali Shah

  2. GIS and Space Applications in Geosciences (GSAG), National Centre of GIS and Space Applications (NCGSA), Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Tanveer Ahmed

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Contributions

Research Idea: Tanveer Ahmed Analysis and Data processing: Tanveer Ahmed, Khaista Rehman, Wajid Ali, Nisar Ali Shah Writing: Tanveer Ahmed, Khaista Rehman, Wajid Ali Review and editing: Khaista Rehman, Muhammad Shafique Supervision: Khaista Rehman, Muhammad Shafique

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Correspondence to Tanveer Ahmed.

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Ahmed, T., Rehman, K., Shafique, M. et al. Proxy-based Vs30 modelling of the Muzaffarabad, northern Pakistan. Environ Earth Sci 83, 188 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-024-11502-8

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