Una aplicación didáctica para la generación de sismogramas sintéticos

Abstract

We have developed an interactive MatlabTM tool to show, in an intuitive way, the generation, propagation and record of local earthquakes. The software is aimed for students from secondary school and first university courses. The software uses as crustal model a three layer structure where the user can select the following parameters: depth, density, P-wave velocity, S-wave velocity (for a given Poisson coefficient), P-wave attenuation, and S-wave attenuation. The source model is the Brune's pulse, but any other wave can be also selected through the program's menu. Other options are related with the Rayleigh waves and the hipocenter. The simulation process considers direct waves, multiple reflected and refracted waves, P-to-S conversions, head waves, and surface waves. The propagation of these waves is affected by different phenomena as geometrical attenuation and dispersion. After simulating, the program allows to show the contribution of each wave and trajectory to the final seismogram. The seismogram, representative of the ground movement, can be also convolved with the response of a Wood-Anderson or a Mark L4-C seismometer. Moreover, real or synthetic noise can be added to the seismogram in order to obtain a signal similar to the real records.