Kinematic Source Properties of the 2023 Mw 7.7 Türkiye Earthquake Inferred from Near-Fault Strong Ground Motions

Abstract The 2023 Mw 7.7 Türkiye earthquake provided densely observed near-fault ground-motion data, which enabled us to investigate their characteristics and generations. This study aimed to obtain an intuitive understanding of the characteristics of near-fault strong ground motions and their relationship with kinematic source properties using a simple source model. Synthetic ground motions were calculated using the discrete wave number method and compared with observed ground motions. The observed strong motions were used after a time correction based on the first P-wave arrival. Results showed that near-fault pulse-like velocities (0.02–0.6 Hz) were generally explained by the simple kinematic source model that assumed a continuous rupture propagation along the faults. Comparisons at individual sites indicate the various rupture properties of the fault segments. Near-fault ground motions along the Narli segment were explained by the fault plane along the surface trace and not by aftershock distribution. A supershear rupture propagation speed is necessary for a part of the Amanos segment. Rupture stops and restarts were implied near the stepover along the Amanos segment. Empirical site factors estimated by generalized inversion techniques did not show peaks around the frequency of observed large velocity pulses, indicating that the velocity pulses were mainly generated by the source. The model bias and uncertainties were also examined to supplement the simplified subsurface structure used in the simulation. Our results will help to associate the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the kinematic source process with near-fault strong ground motions.