Estimation of shallow structure along the hinagu fault by applying seismic interferometry to DAS observations conducted along national route 3 in Kumamoto prefecture, Japan

Abstract Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) is a newly developed geophysical observation method and has attracted wide attention in seismology for realizing ultra-high-density observations. DAS uses fiber-optic cables and measures the strain at every point along the cable. This advantage renders DAS an effective tool for investigating near-surface geotechnical properties. Near fault zones, it is important to obtain detailed geotechnical information in advance because of the potential for significant damage in an earthquake. In this study, we recorded continuous ground motion for approximately 1 month using a 40 km-long fiber-optic communication cable running under National Route 3 in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. The cross-correlation function (CCF) was calculated using ambient noise, and three-station interferometry was applied to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the CCF. Using the reconstructed CCF between channels, we calculated the dispersion curves by conducting multichannel surface wave analysis and estimated the one-dimensional velocity structure of each section from the fundamental modes of the dispersion curves. We obtained the detailed shallow S -wave velocity structure to a depth of 180 m along the Hinagu Fault for approximately 2.5 km. The obtained velocity structure showed that the low-velocity region increased abruptly with depth from the center to the latter half of the analyzed section. This velocity change occurs when the national highway running parallel to the fault gradually leaves the fault, suggesting a structural change from solid volcanic layers to thick shallow sedimentary layers derived from the Yatsushiro Plain. Graphical abstract