Magnitude from short-period <i>P</i>-wave data

abstract An empirical surface-focus amplitude-distance curve, based on approximately 2400 short-period P-wave amplitudes from 43 large explosions at 19 different sites, and a corresponding curve based on geometrical spreading in the Herrin earth model are developed. The relative amplitude differences are inverted to obtain the Q structure of the mantle. Theoretical, deep-focus, amplitude-distance curves incorporating geometric spreading and attenuation are developed. Corresponding distance and depth amplitude-correction P factors are given for computing magnitude (mp). The correction factors are evaluated and are shown to provide a significantly improved basis for computing magnitude relative to the presently used Q factors which yield mb. Values of mp were normalized to be equal on the average to values of mb for a surface source; differences in attenuation factors generally make mb larger than mp for deep earthquakes.