Physics – Geophysics
Scientific paper
2000-07-28
J. Geophys. Res., 105 (B12) pp 28111-28123, 2000
Physics
Geophysics
LaTeX, JGR preprint with AGU++ v16.b and AGUTeX 5.0, use packages graphicx and psfrag, 23 eps figures, 17 pages. In press J. G
Scientific paper
Based on several empirical evidence, a series of papers has advocated the concept that seismicity prior to a large earthquake can be understood in terms of the statistical physics of a critical phase transition. In this model, the cumulative Benioff strain (BS) increases as a power-law time-to-failure before the final event. This power law reflects a kind of scale invariance with respect to the distance to the critical point. A few years ago, on the basis of a fit of the cumulative BS released prior to the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, Sornette and Sammis [1995] proposed that this scale invariance could be partially broken into a discrete scale invariance (DSI). The observable consequence of DSI takes the form of log-periodic oscillations decorating the accelerating power law. They found that the quality of the fit and the predicted time of the event are significantly improved by the introduction of log-periodicity. Here, we present a battery of synthetic tests performed to quantify the statistical significance of this claim. We find that log-periodic oscillations with frequency and regularity similar to those of the Loma Prieta case are very likely to be generated by the interplay of the low pass filtering step due to the construction of cumulative functions together with the approximate power law acceleration. Thus, the single Loma Prieta case alone cannot support the initial claim and additional cases and further study are needed to increase the signal-to-noise ratio if any. The present study will be a useful methodological benchmark for future testing of additional events when the methodology and data to construct reliable Benioff strain function become available.
Huang Yong-Yi
Saleur Herbert
Sornette Didier
No associations
LandOfFree
Re-examination of log-periodicity observed in the seismic precursors of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Re-examination of log-periodicity observed in the seismic precursors of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Re-examination of log-periodicity observed in the seismic precursors of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-283879