Determination of regional attenuation using moderate earthquakes at the Dead Sea fault system

We derive a regional 1-D attenuation (Q–1) model for the Dead Sea fault using moderate earthquakes (3.5 ≤ MW ≤ 4.5). QP and QS are estimated through spectral modeling of stations within 300 km, with corner frequencies independently constrained by the empirical Green’s function method to reduce parameter trade-offs. Q values are averaged across channels to examine distance dependence. We find a linear increase in Q with distance for both P and S waves, flattening beyond ~150 km, consistent with a crust–mantle phase transition. Deviations from this trend highlight low-Q zones along the plate boundary, associated with sedimentary basins. These results emphasize the crustal heterogeneity of the region and provide a foundation for future 3-D attenuation models.