Spectral scaling of earthquakes in the Miramichi region of New Brunswick

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Abstract
Seismograms of 12 earthquakes in the Miramichi region of New Brunswick were analyzed to determine source scaling relations. The events ranged in magnitude from 3.3 to 5.8 (mbLg). P-wave spectra between 1 and 20 Hz were calculated using digital records from station RSNY (Δ = 6°). Spectral ratios were then formed using the main shock as a reference event. Because the travel paths were virtually identical for all of the signals, the spectral ratios yield the scaling of the sources as a function of frequency. The spectral ratio curves show a smooth progression with event size, with their separation decreasing toward higher frequencies. These data were compared with theoretical curves for source models whose displacement spectra roll off as ω−2 and ω−3 above the corner frequencies. The data strongly favor the ω−2 models; the ω−3 models predict greater variation across the 1- to 20-Hz band than is observed. Comparison of the P-wave scaling at 15 Hz with the Rayleigh wave scaling at a period of 8 sec indicates that stress drop may increase with moment for these events, although not as fast as Nuttli (1983) has suggested for intraplate earthquakes.