Strong Motion Simulation of the M8.0 August 15, 2007, Pisco Earthquake; Effect of a Multi-Frequency Rupture Process

We investigated the broadband frequency (0.05-30 Hz) radiation characteristics of the August 15, 2007, Mw8.0 Pisco, Peru, earthquake by simulating the near-source strong ground motion recordings in Parcona city (PCN) and Lima city (NNA). A source model of this earthquake obtained from long-period teleseismic waveforms and InSar data shows two separate asperities, which is consistent with the observation of two distinct episodes of strong shaking in strong motion recordings. We constructed a source model that reproduces near-source records at low frequency (0.05-0.8 Hz) as well as high frequency (0.8-30 Hz) bands. Our results show that the aforementioned teleseismic source model is appropriate for simulating near-source low frequency ground motion. Our modeling of the PCN record in the broad-frequency band indicates that a very strong high frequency radiation event likely occurred near the hypocenter, which generated a large acceleration peak within the first episode of strong shaking at PCN. Using this " broadband frequency" source model we simulated the strong ground motion at Pisco city and obtained accelerations as large as 700 cm/s(2) and velocities as high as 90 cm/s, respectively, which may explain the heavy damage occurring in the city.