<p>There are several factors that determine the spectrum of wave frequencies of earthquakes. They include the <a href="http://faculty.weber.edu/bdattilo/shknbk/notes/msrngerthqks.htm">following:</a></p>

<p>1) Size of the earthquake. All other things being equal, the larger the earthquake, the larger the spectrum of frequencies.</p>

<p>2) The texture of the rocks or other materials. Hard materials have a wider range of frequencies than soft materials.</p>

<p>3) The ratio of "body" to surface waves. Waves emanating from the body of the earthquake have higher total frequencies (and greater variation), than waves emanating from the surface of the ground.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-16T23:22:51.490Z
2014-04-16T23:22:51.490Z
Tom Au
<p>I would imagine two factors are involved. The source and the media. The vibration of source and its spectra has to do with its mass and stiffness. The propagation of the seismic wave and its attenuation has to do with media. Admittedly both hard to quantify, but with known geology of local and surrounding area it is possible to estimate the frequency and acceleration.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-25T22:23:33.833Z
2016-01-25T22:23:33.833Z
Kamran khademi
<p>Does the shape of the fault that the earthquake originated from determine its ratio of high frequency to low frequency waves?</p>

<p>What about shallow-fault vs deep subduction zone earthquakes?</p>

<seismology><earthquakes>
What determines the spectrum of high and low frequency waves emitted by an earthquake?
InquilineKea
# What determines the spectrum of high and low frequency waves emitted by an earthquake?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-04-16)

Does the shape of the fault that the earthquake originated from determine its ratio of high frequency to low frequency waves?

What about shallow-fault vs deep subduction zone earthquakes?

**Tags:** seismology, earthquakes


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-04-16. Score: 9

There are several factors that determine the spectrum of wave frequencies of earthquakes. They include the [following:](http://faculty.weber.edu/bdattilo/shknbk/notes/msrngerthqks.htm)

1) Size of the earthquake. All other things being equal, the larger the earthquake, the larger the spectrum of frequencies.

2) The texture of the rocks or other materials. Hard materials have a wider range of frequencies than soft materials.

3) The ratio of "body" to surface waves. Waves emanating from the body of the earthquake have higher total frequencies (and greater variation), than waves emanating from the surface of the ground.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2016-01-25. Score: 0

I would imagine two factors are involved. The source and the media. The vibration of source and its spectra has to do with its mass and stiffness. The propagation of the seismic wave and its attenuation has to do with media. Admittedly both hard to quantify, but with known geology of local and surrounding area it is possible to estimate the frequency and acceleration.


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