Based on the representation theorem of seismic energy radiation,in this study,we have quantitatively investigated the effect of free surface on the radiation energy distribution due to a coupling interaction between free surface and near surface finite fault for the reverse earthquake faulting.Corresponding to the finite faulting,a 2-D pseudostatic-reverse-fault-dislocation solution has been used in the calculation of the work done by the seismic response against free surface.The results indicate that,due to a strong coupling interaction between the free surface and near surface fault,the total radiated seismic energy ER is much larger than that radiated only from the fault itself(EF),especially for the shallow reverse faulting.In convention,EF is commonly used in the estimation of earthquake energy radiation.However,when the fault depth H,the distance between the free surface and top of fault location,increases,the effect of the coupling interaction between the fault and free surface decreases gradually.Therefore,the total radiated energy ER approaches to the EF when the depth H is about 2 times the fault length l.The current study could provide us a partial explanation of the apparent stress discrepancy observed at the far field and near field in the recent large earthquake.Moreover,the current study also has a significant implication of how to quantitatively describe the near fault strong ground motion and associated seismic hazard from the earthquake source energy point of view. Based on the representation theorem of seismic energy radiation, in this study, we have quantitatively investigated the effect of free surface on the radiation energy distribution due to a coupling interaction between free surface and near surface finite fault for the reverse earthquake faulting. Corresponding to the finite faulting, a 2-D pseudostatic-reverse-fault-dislocation solution has been used in the calculation of the work done by the seismic response against free surface. The results indicate that, due to a strong coupling interaction between the free surface and near surface fault, the total radiated seismic energy ER is much larger than that radiated only from the fault itself (EF), especially for the shallow reverse faulting. Convention, EF is commonly used in the estimation of earthquake energy radiation. fault depth H, the distance between the free surface and top of fault location, increases, the effect of the coupling interaction between the fault and free surface下降 gradually.Therefore, the total radiated energy ER approaches to the EF when the depth H is about 2 times the fault length l. The current study could provide us a partial explanation of the apparent stress discrepancy observed at the far field and near field in the recent large earthquake. Moreover, the current study also has a significant implication of how to quantitatively describe the near fault strong ground motion and associated seismic hazard from the earthquake source energy point of view.