Three-dimensional seismic attenuation structure beneath the Taiwan region and its tectonic implication

Three-dimensional (3-D) attenuation structures were determined for Taiwan region by inversion of earthquake intensity data set. The seismic intensity which is assumed to be a measure of the maximum acceleration of the S-wave at the seismic station is used to estimate the attenuation structure. The intensity data' set consists of about 5500 intensity readings for 1410 earthquakes reported by the Central Weather Bureau of Taiwan from 1987 to 2010. The 3-D attenuation maps consisting of five layers were constructed to a depth of 74 km. The obtained model reveals the following features: first, a high absorption zone exists in the western-most Okinawa trough. These high-attenuation anomalies seem to extend from upper crust to mantle beneath the Yilan Plain and Kueishantao Island. We interpret the high absorption zone as the presence of the relatively hot lower crust and uppermost mantle in response to the local opening of the Okinawa trough. Second, strong lateral variation of seismic attenuation is observed from the source region of the Chi-Chi earthquake in the central Taiwan. Most aftershocks were occurred beneath the Western Foothills which is characterized by a transition from high attenuation to low attenuation between the Chelungpu fault and Chuchih fault. However, the region east to the Chuchih fault is relatively quiescent. This study suggests that the high Vp/Vs and lateral variation of attenuation features existing beneath the Western Foothills could be associated with porous materials containing fluid which might affect the generation of the Chi-Chi earthquake. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.