Evaluation of a 3D Crustal Velocity Model for Northern Israel Using Wavefield Simulations

ABSTRACT

We evaluate a recently developed 3D crustal velocity model for northern Israel using numerical simulations of seismic wave propagation for eighteen earthquakes (3≤Mw≤4.5). Synthetic seismograms were compared with observed recordings from the Israel Seismic Network in the frequency range 0.1–0.5 Hz in the time domain through cross correlation, and in the frequency domain through a spectral-misfit analysis. Cross correlations of observed records with synthetics show higher similarities to those generated by the 3D model. In addition, the time lags between synthetic and observed waveforms are concentrated around zero. By contrast, synthetics generated using the 1D regional model show increasing time lags with increasing distance. The 3D model also substantially reduces the median spectral misfit relative to the 1D model across all components, with Gitt1D median misfit values of 0.72 (Z), 1.03 (R), and 1.02 (T) reduced to −0.19 (Z), 0.23 (R), and 0.38 (T) in Be3D, yielding a more balanced reproduction of observed amplitudes. Spatially, the 3D model performs best in regions of relatively simple crustal structure but underestimates spectral amplitudes within narrow sedimentary basins, particularly along the Kinneret–Kinarot and Hula basins, likely due to unresolved near-surface low-velocity zones. This study represents an intermediate step in an ongoing model development cycle. Although the 3D model demonstrates clear improvements over the 1D reference, the evaluation also identifies key limitations that must be addressed. These findings directly inform planned future modeling efforts, including the incorporation of finer-resolution sedimentary basin structures constrained by additional geophysical datasets.