The effect of simple topography on seismic waves: Implications for the accelerations recorded at Pacoima Dam, San Fernando Valley, California

Abstract

A precise analysis of the influence of topographic and geological effects on the significant ground motions recorded near Pacoima Dam during the San Fernando, California, earthquake of February 9, 1971, is an immensely complicated task. Calculations for simple models give results that suggest the following general conclusions: (1) the topography should have influenced the recorded ground motion, and (2) this influence seems to be an amplification of the higher-frequency accelerations by as much as 50 per cent, but is relatively unimportant at the lower frequencies (which control the maximum particle velocities).