An application of the coda methodology for moment-rate spectra using broadband stations in Turkey

A recently developed coda magnitude methodology was applied to selected broadband stations in Turkey for the purpose of testing the coda method in a large, laterally complex region. As found in other, albeit smaller regions, coda envelope amplitude measurements are significantly less variable than distance-corrected direct wave measurements (i.e., L_g and surface waves) by roughly a factor 3-to-4. Despite strong lateral crustal heterogeneity in Turkey, we found that the region could be adequately modeled assuming a simple 1-D, radially symmetric path correction. After calibrating the stations ISP, ISKB, and MALT for local and regional distances, single-station moment-magnitude estimates (M_w) derived from the coda spectra were in excellent agreement with those determined from multistation waveform modeling inversions, exhibiting a data standard deviation of 0.17. Though the calibration was validated using large events, the results of the calibration will extend M_w estimates to significantly smaller events which could not otherwise be waveform modeled. The successful application of the method is remarkable considering the significant lateral complexity in Turkey and the simple assumptions used in the coda method.