Abstract
To explore where earthquakes tend to recur, we statistically investigated repeating earthquake catalogs and background seismicity from different regions (Parkfield, Hayward, Calaveras, and Chihshang Faults). We show that the location of repeating earthquakes can be mapped using the spatial distribution of the seismic a and b values obtained from the background seismicity. Molchan's error diagram statistically confirmed that repeating earthquakes occur within areas with high a values (2.8–3.8) and high b values (0.9–1.1) on both strike-slip and thrust fault segments. However, no significant association held true for fault segments with more complicated geometry or for wider areas with a complex fault network. The productivity of small earthquakes responsible for high a and b values may thus be the most important factor controlling the location of repeating earthquakes. We inferred that the location of high creep rate in planar/listric fault structures might be indicated by a values of ~3 and b values of ~1.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 6675-6682 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Geophysical Research Letters |
| Volume | 44 |
| Issue number | 13 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2017 Jul 16 |
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Keywords
- fault creep
- frequency-magnitude distribution
- repeating earthquakes
- seismicity
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geophysics
- Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)
Cite this
Influences on the location of repeating earthquakes determined from a and b value imaging. / Kawamura, Masashi; Chen, Hui-Hsuan.
In: Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 44, No. 13, 16.07.2017, p. 6675-6682.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Influences on the location of repeating earthquakes determined from a and b value imaging
AU - Kawamura, Masashi
AU - Chen, Hui-Hsuan
PY - 2017/7/16
Y1 - 2017/7/16
N2 - To explore where earthquakes tend to recur, we statistically investigated repeating earthquake catalogs and background seismicity from different regions (Parkfield, Hayward, Calaveras, and Chihshang Faults). We show that the location of repeating earthquakes can be mapped using the spatial distribution of the seismic a and b values obtained from the background seismicity. Molchan's error diagram statistically confirmed that repeating earthquakes occur within areas with high a values (2.8–3.8) and high b values (0.9–1.1) on both strike-slip and thrust fault segments. However, no significant association held true for fault segments with more complicated geometry or for wider areas with a complex fault network. The productivity of small earthquakes responsible for high a and b values may thus be the most important factor controlling the location of repeating earthquakes. We inferred that the location of high creep rate in planar/listric fault structures might be indicated by a values of ~3 and b values of ~1.
AB - To explore where earthquakes tend to recur, we statistically investigated repeating earthquake catalogs and background seismicity from different regions (Parkfield, Hayward, Calaveras, and Chihshang Faults). We show that the location of repeating earthquakes can be mapped using the spatial distribution of the seismic a and b values obtained from the background seismicity. Molchan's error diagram statistically confirmed that repeating earthquakes occur within areas with high a values (2.8–3.8) and high b values (0.9–1.1) on both strike-slip and thrust fault segments. However, no significant association held true for fault segments with more complicated geometry or for wider areas with a complex fault network. The productivity of small earthquakes responsible for high a and b values may thus be the most important factor controlling the location of repeating earthquakes. We inferred that the location of high creep rate in planar/listric fault structures might be indicated by a values of ~3 and b values of ~1.
KW - fault creep
KW - frequency-magnitude distribution
KW - repeating earthquakes
KW - seismicity
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U2 - 10.1002/2017GL073335
DO - 10.1002/2017GL073335
M3 - Article
VL - 44
SP - 6675
EP - 6682
JO - Geophysical Research Letters
JF - Geophysical Research Letters
SN - 0094-8276
IS - 13
ER -