PL EN
HVSR-Based Seismic Site Characterization of the Agadir Oufella Area, Southwestern Morocco
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Więcej
Ukryj
1
Geophysics and Natural Hazards Laboratory, Institut Scientifique, GEOPAC Research Center, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Avenue Ibn Battuta, P.O. Box 703, Rabat-Agdal 10106, Morocco
 
2
Engineering Office IservicePro, Temara 12000, Morocco
 
 
Autor do korespondencji
Fadoua Cherki   

Geophysics and Natural Hazards Laboratory, Institut Scientifique, GEOPAC Research Center, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Avenue Ibn Battuta, P.O. Box 703, Rabat-Agdal 10106, Morocco
 
 
 
SŁOWA KLUCZOWE
DZIEDZINY
STRESZCZENIE
Seismic site effects induced by local geological and geotechnical conditions can significantly modify ground shaking and increase earthquake hazard in urban environments. This study aims to characterize near-surface seismic conditions in the Agadir Oufella area (southwestern Morocco) using ambient vibration measurements analyzed through the Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) method applied at 31 measurement stations. The approach combines HVSR-derived fundamental resonance frequencies with simplified quarter-wavelength and two-layer velocity models to estimate sediment thickness and proxy shear-wave velocity (Vs30), providing a first-order spatial model of subsurface stiffness variations. The results show strong spatial heterogeneity in seismic site conditions, with fundamental resonance frequencies ranging from 2 to 15 Hz, corresponding to estimated sediment thicknesses between 3 and 21 m and proxy Vs30 values varying from 318 to 632 m/s. The southwestern sector consistently exhibits lower resonance frequencies, thicker unconsolidated deposits, and lower Vs30 values, indicating softer and more deformable subsurface conditions, while the northern and eastern sectors are characterized by higher frequencies, thinner sediment cover, and relatively stiffer near-surface materials. These patterns suggest a dominant control of bedrock morphology and sediment thickness on local seismic response. A key limitation of this study is the reliance on assumed shear-wave velocity values and simplified one-dimensional subsurface models, which introduce uncertainty into sediment thickness and Vs30 estimations. Additionally, the absence of borehole or active seismic validation restricts the calibration of the derived parameters. Nevertheless, the spatial consistency of the results provides a robust first-order approximation of site-condition variability. Practically, the findings offer valuable input for seismic risk assessment, land-use planning, and urban development strategies in the Agadir Oufella sector, particularly in identifying areas potentially prone to seismic amplification. The originality of this work lies in the first high-resolution HVSR-based seismic microzonation of the Agadir Oufella area, integrating spatial mapping of resonance frequency, sediment thickness, and proxy Vs30 within a structurally complex urban geological setting.
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