Effect of Source Parameter Variability on RVT-Based Site Response Analysis: A Case Study for the Aegean Region of Türkiye

This study investigates the influence of source parameter variability—specifically stress drop and anelastic attenuation—on site response analysis using the Random Vibration Theory (RVT) framework. Site amplifications were computed for a representative site in the Aegean region of Türkiye using four different source parameter sets based on regional literature. A single set of randomized Vs profiles was used to account for subsurface variability, while varying source models enabled the evaluation of epistemic uncertainty in site amplification. The epistemic uncertainty associated with source parameters, expressed as τ_"source" , peaks at approximately 0.04 s, reflecting the sensitivity of high-frequency site response to stress drop and attenuation. The study provides a regionally calibrated quantification of source-parameter-driven epistemic uncertainty for the Aegean region. The findings emphasize the need to account for source-related uncertainty in seismic hazard assessment. Unlike most previous RVT-based studies, this work explicitly isolates and quantifies the effect of stress drop and attenuation on site amplification, highlighting a novel contributor to epistemic uncertainty. Future work should incorporate Monte Carlo simulation of source parameters to support PSHA applications.