SCEC Award Number 11091 View PDF
Proposal Category Individual Proposal (Data Gathering and Products)
Proposal Title Developing an approach to benchmarking the SCEC Community Velocity Models using waveform analysis and implementing model improvements in the CVM-H
Investigator(s)
Name Organization
John H. Shaw Harvard University
Other Participants Andreas Plesch (Harvard University)
Carl Tape (University of Alaska)
SCEC Priorities C, B4, B6 SCEC Groups GMP, USR, Seismology
Report Due Date 02/29/2012 Date Report Submitted N/A
Project Abstract
 In the past year, we developed a new version of the Community Velocity Model (CVM-H) that was delivered through the SCEC UCVM framework. This latest CVMH model (11.9) includes new representations of the San Bernardino and western Santa Barbara Channel basins, and a series of other improvements to facilitate its use in waveform tomography and strong ground motion forecasting. This model has been used by Carl Tape (Univ. of Alaska) and the SCEC CME group to generate a series of synthetic waveforms for recent earthquakes in California. Comparisons of these synthetics with natural waveforms provides the basis for evaluating the model using goodness-of-fit measures (Olsen and Mayhew (2010) and subsequently iterating the model using 3D waveform tomographic methods (Chen et al., 2007; Tape et al., 2009, 2010).
Intellectual Merit This research represents the development of an improved community velocity model, which serves as the basis for a variety of SCEC science and hazard assessment objectives, including strong ground motion prediction.
Broader Impacts This project has involved graduate students and research staff, and the results of improved strong ground motion modeling provide the basis for reducing loss of life and property in future earthquakes.
Exemplary Figure Figure 4