Spatiotemporal variations in the b-value of earthquake magnitude–frequency distributions: Classification and causes

El-Isa, Z. H.; Eaton, David W.

doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2013.12.001

Cited by 155 publications

(105 citation statements)

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“…The typical b-value is close to 1, but values ranging from 0.3 to 2.5 have been reported in the literature [El-Isa and Eaton, 2014]. Some of these variations may be artifacts of incomplete catalogs or method of computation [Mignan and Woessner, 2012].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Break of slope in earthquake size distribution and creep rate along the San Andreas Fault system

Vorobieva

Shebalin

Narteau

2016

Geophysical Research Letters

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Crustal faults accommodate slip either by a succession of earthquakes or continuous slip, and in most instances, both these seismic and aseismic processes coexist. Recorded seismicity and geodetic measurements are therefore two complementary data sets that together document ongoing deformation along active tectonic structures. Here we study the influence of stable sliding on earthquake statistics. We show that creep along the San Andreas Fault is responsible for a break of slope in the earthquake size distribution. This slope increases with an increasing creep rate for larger magnitude ranges, whereas it shows no systematic dependence on creep rate for smaller magnitude ranges. This is interpreted as a deficit of large events under conditions of faster creep where seismic ruptures are less likely to propagate. These results suggest that the earthquake size distribution does not only depend on the level of stress but also on the type of deformation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Break of slope in earthquake size distribution and creep rate along the San Andreas Fault system

Vorobieva

Shebalin

Narteau

2016

Geophysical Research Letters

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“…The bvalue that obtained for the study area was larger than typical b value for the whole Earth (Figure 7). Earthquakes are characterized by the b-value mostly in the range of 1.02 ± 0.03 for the whole Earth [56]. However, on a local scale, the b-value has been reported to show a relatively wide range of variations (0.3 to 2.5 or more; e.g.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial Analysis of b-value Variability in Armutlu Peninsula (NW Turkey)

Yeken

2016

Open Geosciences

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Spatial variations of b values were studied by means of 2376 earthquakes with a magnitude completeness of 2.7 in the Armutlu Peninsula (NW Turkey) during a 15-year period following the destructive earthquake on August 17, 1999 in Kocaeli. The b value of L6 for the entire Armutlu Peninsula represents a large value for a global value, but this analysis suggested that the distribution of b value around the Armutlu Peninsula varied extensively from 1.2 to 2.6. Several pockets of high bvalue re ected changes in the physical properties of the Armutlu Peninsula. The southern part of the peninsula represents a lower b value against the northern part of the peninsula. A high bvalue was observed around Termal and Armutlu towns where plenty of geothermal springs occur. Seismic tomography studies revealed a low velocity zone beneath the Termal area where the high b value was imaged in this study. A seismic swarm which is considered to be related with geothermal activity also occurred in 2014 at the same place. This observation suggests that it is possible to propose that the high b value in the northern part of the peninsula could be related to hydrothermal/geothermal activity which contributes to lowering the e ective stress.

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“…The b-value of earthquake activity has been related to depth or tectonic environment and also to such factors as local or regional stress configuration as well as heat flow and geothermal/volcanic factors (Scholz, 1968;Wyss, 1973;El-Isa and Eaton, 2014). The case studies shown in Table 3 indicate that b-values above 1.0 are quite normal for seismicity related to volcanic environments with a range of 1.5-3.0 occurring.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(Table 3). High b-values are sometimes associated with magmatic intrusions or fluid movement at depth (Farrell et al, 2009;El-Isa and Eaton, 2014). Note in Fig.…”

Section: The B-value As a Tectonic Or Volcanic/magmatic Indicatormentioning

confidence: 97%