The effects of subsoil conditions on surface ground motion are evaluated in terms of energy spectra. Near-field and far-field strong ground motion recorded during recent destructive earthquakes at nearby rock and soil sites characterized by a comprehensive knowledge of the geotecbnical properties are considered. The study suggests that energy spectra at soil sites are amplified with respect to those on rock sites. The maximum spectral amplification is usually well correlated to the natural periods of the sites. The most striking difference between traditional response spectra and energy spectra is the high soil amplification at longer periods, which is not apparent from the consideration of response spectra only
