Local interaction of seismic events from a synthetic catalog: Block structure dynamics

V. L. Gasilov

A. G. Prozorov and A. A. Soloviev

Abstract

We analyze a synthetic catalog by using the local statistic technique to estimate positive and negative influence of large events on the subsequent seismicity rate. The catalog is obtained by modeling block structure dynamics. The structure consists of perfectly rigid blocks separated by infinitely thin flat faults. The blocks interact between themselves and with the underlying medium and move under effects of motions prescribed to boundary blocks and to the medium. The interaction is viscoelastic and confined to fault zones and boundaries separating blocks from this medium. The dependence of elastic stress on relative displacement is assumed to be linear. When stress exceeds a certain threshold on some part of a fault plane, a stress release (a rupture) occurs, which can cause rupture in other parts of the structure. Each sequence of such ruptures is considered an earthquake. The local statistic technique for the synthetic earthquake catalog reveals a positive influence (an increase of the background seismicity rate) of large events on shocks immediately following them and a negative influence (a decrease of this rate) during the subsequent period.

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Computational Seismology, Vol. 4.