An estimate of the attenuation relationship for strong ground motion in the Kivu Province, Western Rift Valley of Africa

On the basis of the assumption of identical seismic response at three sites (Lwiro, Katale and Kunene) located within the Western Rift Valley of Africa, attenuation relationship based on simulating strong motions of large earthquakes using recordings of small earthquakes has been calculated. Results show that the attenuation of average peak ground acceleration Y is related to the magnitude M and the epicentral (hypocentral) distance R according to the the following power laws: M = 5.0 ,   Y = 1.42   exp ( 1.43 M ) R − 1.1 M = 5.5 − 6.5 ,   Y = 1.42   exp ( 1.43 M ) R − 1.2 M = 7.0 ,   Y = 1.42   exp ( 1.43 M ) R − 1.3 M = 7.5 ,   Y = 1.42   exp ( 1.43 M ) R − 1.4 ak ground acceleration Y and epicentral (hypocentral) distance R are expressed, respectively, in gal and kilometer (km).