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Application of Microtremor Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio (MHVSR) Analysis for Site Characterization: State of the Art

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Abstract

Nakamura (Q Rep Railway Tech Res Inst 30:25–33, 1989) popularized the application of the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) analysis of microtremor (seismic noise or ambient vibration) recordings to estimate the predominant frequency and amplification factor of earthquake shaking. During the following quarter century, popularity in the microtremor HVSR (MHVSR) method grew; studies have verified the stability of a site’s MHVSR response over time and validated the MHVSR response with that of earthquake HVSR response. Today, MHVSR analysis is a popular reconnaissance tool used worldwide for seismic microzonation and earthquake site characterization in numerous regions, specifically, in the mapping of site period or fundamental frequency and inverted for shear-wave velocity depth profiles, respectively. However, the ubiquity of MHVSR analysis is predominantly a consequence of its ease in application rather than our full understanding of its theory. We present the state of the art in MHVSR analyses in terms of the development of its theoretical basis, current state of practice, and we comment on its future for applications in earthquake site characterization.

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Fig. 1

Modified from Castellaro (2016)

Fig. 2

Original figure appears in FJ Sánchez-Sesma (2017)

Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

(seismic section adapted from Pugin et al. 2013)

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Acknowledgements

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Consortium of Organizations for Strong-Motion Observation Systems (COSMOS) Facilitation Committee for the Development of the COSMOS International Guidelines for the Application of Noninvasive Geophysical Techniques to Characterize Seismic Site Conditions. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the US Government. Thanks are given to J. Piña-Flores for his comments and suggestions and to G. Sánchez, E. Plata, and their team of the Unidad de Servicios de Información (USI) of the Institute of Engineering-UNAM for locating useful references. Partial support by AXA Research Fund, by DGAPA-UNAM under Project IN100917 is gratefully acknowledged. Natural Resources Canada (Geological Survey of Canada) gratefully acknowledges the contributions of Dr. André Pugin in the processing of the seismic section produced herein, and the support of the Public Safety Geoscience and Groundwater Geoscience Programs. This is ESS Contribution number 20170132. This paper was improved from U.S. Geological Survey reviews by Drs. Stephen Hartzell and William Stephenson.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St. N, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada

    S. Molnar

  2. Natural Resources Canada, PO Box 6000, Sidney, BC, V8L 4B2, Canada

    J. F. Cassidy

  3. Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Bologna, 40127, Bologna, Italy

    S. Castellaro

  4. Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Univ. Savoie Mont-Blanc, CNRS, IRD, IFSTTAR, ISTerre, 38000, Grenoble, France

    C. Cornou

  5. Natural Resources Canada, 601 Booth St., Ottawa, ON, K1A 0E8, Canada

    H. Crow & J. A. Hunter

  6. Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0011, Japan

    S. Matsushima

  7. Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CU, 04510, Coyoacán, D.F., Mexico

    F. J. Sánchez-Sesma

  8. U.S. Geological Survey, 525 South Wilson Ave., Pasadena, CA, 91106, USA

    A. Yong

Authors
  1. S. Molnar
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  2. J. F. Cassidy
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  3. S. Castellaro
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  4. C. Cornou
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  5. H. Crow
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  6. J. A. Hunter
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  7. S. Matsushima
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  8. F. J. Sánchez-Sesma
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  9. A. Yong
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Molnar.

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Molnar, S., Cassidy, J.F., Castellaro, S. et al. Application of Microtremor Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio (MHVSR) Analysis for Site Characterization: State of the Art. Surv Geophys 39, 613–631 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10712-018-9464-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10712-018-9464-4

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