ESSOAr | https://doi.org/10.1002/essoar.10503348.

1 | Non-exclusive | First posted online: Fri, 12 Jun 2020 01:25:28 | This content has not been peer reviewed.
RUMShake: A pilot amplification study in western Puerto Rico
Preiser Brunat1,2, E. A. Vanacore1,2 , Thomas L. Pratt3, & Jose A. Martínez-Cruzado1,4
University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez 1 Puerto Rico Seismic Network2 U.S. Geological Survey3 Puerto Rico Strong Motion Program4
preiser.brunat@upr.edu

Introduction Preliminary Results

Puerto Rico is a seismic zone with a history of destructive earthquakes such as the 1918
7.3 Mw Mona Passage event. Each year the PRSN detects ~4,000 earthquakes within and
around Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the Eastern Dominican Republic. Given the
seismic hazard presented by this earthquake activity it is critical to perform systematic
and continuous studies aimed at understanding and mitigating the impacts of
earthquakes. The major effects to a site are due to seismic wave amplification at specific
frequencies caused by local unconsolidated sediments during strong ground motions.
Therefore, it is important to recognize and mitigate these. As part of understanding the
hazard, we conducted a seismic site response study in the city of Mayaguez, Western PR.
Tectonic Setting and Deployment
Regional map of the
Northeast Caribbean
showing the major faults
included in the GEM
data base. Stars indicate
the epicenters of local
events included in this
analysis. The red box
indicates the location of
the study area.
Twelve L-22 sensors with Reftek RT130
recorders were installed in April 2019 to
collect data for a period of six months.
Since then, there have been fifty-seven
M3.5 or greater earthquakes in the region
and six to eight more distant earthquakes
that were well recorded. Results from the
analysis of twenty earthquakes with high
signal to noise ratio are presented.
 The large amplitude peaks on many off the
sediment sites indicate that they
substantially amplify seismic waves at
frequencies above 1 Hz.
 All sediment sites have amplifications of 7
or greater at frequencies above 1 Hz.
 Large amplifications are consistent with
unconsolidated sediments overlying
volcanic bedrock.
 Site responses exhibit variable behavior
over relatively short distances (~1-1.5km).
 Prominent peaks are consistent with strong
resonance within sediments with
thicknesses of ~85 m or less (assuming Vs =
500 m/s).
 Large responses are consistent with
observations of large accelerations recorded
during moderate earthquakes in PR.
Spectral ratios relative to bedrock: Black lines are individual earthquakes, red lines are the average spectral ratio, green lines are
standard deviations. Left column is bedrock sites with very thin sediments.
P
Data Analysis Conclusions & Future Work
Spectral ratios for each station have been computed This study demonstrates very high amplification at sediment sites in
relative to the average of two bedrock sites (CORN and western PR.
HMR1 or MY12). A fifty second analysis window is
employed to calculate the Fourier Transforms. A noise This observation is likely applicable to the other islands of the Greater
window is analyzed before the earthquake; data points Antilles.
with signal to noise ratio less than 2 are removed. Example S
site responses from bedrock (top) and non-bedrock Variability is consistent with changes of geology over short distances,
(bottom) sites are shown to the right. indicating that denser coverage, using microtremors for example, may
be needed for effective hazard mapping.

Results from this study indicate a need for more detailed assessments
of site response in major cities such as San Juan and Ponce, PR.

Geologic map of the study area
showing Quaternary (sediments) in
yellow, the Tertiary Formation in med
blue, the Cretaceous Formation in gray.
Station locations are shown as black
circles.
Picture of the MY06 station showing the
solar panel sitting upon the equipment
box that contains the battery and
digitizer. The GPS was installed on a post
nearby. The visible cable connects the
Reftek to the buried L-22 sensor.
Acknowledgements
We thank the Puerto Rico Seismic Network, the Puerto Rico Strong
Motion Program, and the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez for their
Recording of a 5.0 Mw aftershock showing small support. We thank IRIS and PASSCAL for instrumentation and support.
amplitudes at bedrock sites (top two) compared to The USGS provided funding for instrument shipping and logistics. We
sediment sites (bottom two). thank Diego F. Carlos Gómez and Francisco Hernández for their help in
the field.