Comparison between earthquake magnitudes determined by China seismograph network and US seismograph networks (I): Body wave magnitude

Introduction Gutenberg (1945a, b) introduced body wave magnitude based on P, PP and S waves (with a period of 0.5~12.0 s) of teleseismic events. Body wave magnitude includes mb determined with short-period seismograph and mB determined with middle- and long-period seismographs. Some-times it is written as m, which is referred to as unified earthquake magnitude. mb represents earth-quake magnitude measured with body wave amplitude around 1 s, while mB represents earthquake magnitude measured …     

Empirical Global Relations Converting M S and m b to Moment Magnitude

The existence of several magnitude scales used by seismological centers all over the world and the compilation of earthquake catalogs by many authors have rendered globally valid relations connecting magnitude scales a necessity. This would allow the creation of a homogeneous global earthquake catalog, a useful tool for earthquake research. Of special interest is the definition of global relations converting different magnitude scales to the most reliable and useful scale of magnitude, the moment magnitude, M _W. In order to accomplish this, a very large sample of data from international seismological sources (ISC, NEIC, HRVD, etc.) has been collected and processed. The magnitude scales tested against M _W are the surface wave magnitude, M _S, the body wave magnitude, m _b, and the local magnitude, M _L. The moment magnitudes adopted have been taken from the CMT solutions of HRVD and USGS. The data set used in this study contains 20,407 earthquakes, which occurred all over the world during the time period 1.1.1976–31.5.2003, for which moment magnitudes are available. It is shown that well-defined relations hold between M _W and m _b and M _S and that these relations can be reliably used for compiling homogeneous, with respect to magnitude, earthquake catalogs.     

Calibration of magnitude scales for earthquakes of the Mediterranean

In order to provide the tools for uniform size determination for Mediterranean earthquakes over the last 50-year period of instrumental seismology, we have regressed the magnitude determinations for 220 earthquakes of the European-Mediterranean region over the 1977–1991 period, reported by three international centres, 11 national and regional networks and 101 individual stations and observatories, using seismic moments from the Harvard CMTs. We calibrate M(M₀) regression curves for the magnitude scales commonly used for Mediterranean earthquakes (M_L, M_WA, m_b, M_S, M_LH, M_LV, M_D, M); we also calibrate static corrections or specific regressions for individual observatories and we verify the reliability of the reports of different organizations and observatories. Our analysis shows that the teleseismic magnitudes (m_b, M_S) computed by international centers (ISC, NEIC) provide good measures of earthquake size, with low standard deviations (0.17–0.23), allowing one to regress stable regional calibrations with respect to the seismic moment and to correct systematic biases such as the hypocentral depth for M_S and the radiation pattern for m_b; while m_b is commonly reputed to be an inadequate measure of earthquake size, we find that the ISC m_b is still today the most precise measure to use to regress M_W and M₀ for earthquakes of the European-Mediterranean region; few individual observatories report teleseismic magnitudes requiring specific dynamic calibrations (BJI, MOS). Regional surface-wave magnitudes (M_LV, M_LH) reported in Eastern Europe generally provide reliable measures of earthquake size, with standard deviations often in the 0.25–0.35 range; the introduction of a small (±0.1–0.2) static station correction is sometimes required. While the Richter magnitude M_L is the measure of earthquake size most commonly reported in the press whenever an earthquake strikes, we find that M_L has not been computed in the European-Mediterranean in the last 15 years; the reported local magnitudes M_WA and M_L do not conform to the Richter formula and are of poor quality and little use, with few exceptions requiring ad hoc calibrations similar to the M_S regression (EMSC, ATH). The duration magnitude M_D used by most seismic networks confirms that its use requires accurate station calibrations and should be restricted only to events with low seismic moments.     

The empirical relationships between M s, m b and M L for China and vicinity

Data from 753 earthquakes are used to determine a relationship between surface-wave magnitude (M _s) and bodywave magnitude (m _b), and from 541 earthquakes to determine a relationship between surface-wave magnitude (M _s) and local magnitude (M _L) for China and vicinity: M _s=0.9883 m _b-0.0420, M _s=0.9919 M _L-0.1773. The relationship of M _s versus m _b is obtained for 292 events occurred in the Chinese mainland in the time period from 1964 to 1996, 291 events occurred in Taiwan in the time period from 1964 to 1995 and 170 events occurred in the surrounding area. Standard deviation of the fitting is 0.445. Relationship of M _s versus M _L is obtained for 36 events occurred in the Chinese mainland, 293 events occurred in Taiwan, China and 212 events occurred in the surrounding area. The total amount is 541 events. Standard deviation of the fitting is 0.4673. The uncertainties of the converted M _s in different magnitude intervals can be estimated using complementary cumulative distribution function (CCDF). In the relationship of M _s versus m _b, taking ±0.25 as a range of uncertainties, in magnitude interval m _b 4.0–4.9, the probabilities for the converted M _s taken value less than (M _s-0.25) and more than (M _s+0.25) are 17% and 27% respectively. Similarly, we have probabilities for m _b 5.0–5.9 are 34% and 20% and that for m _b 6.0–6.9 are 11% and 47%. In the relationship of M _s versus M _L, if the range of uncertainties is still taken as ±0.25, the corresponding probabilities for magnitude interval M _L 4.0–4.9 are 22% and 38%, for M _L 5.0–5.9 are 20% and 15% and for magnitude interval M _L 6.0–6.9, are 15% and 29%, respectively. The relationships developed in this paper can be used for the conversion of one magnitude scale into another magnitude scales conveniently. The estimation of uncertainties described in this paper is more accurate and more objective than the usual estimation expressed by deviation. The estimations described in this paper indicate various dispersions in different magnitude intervals of original data. The estimations of uncertainties described by probabilities can be well connected with the total estimations of uncertainties in seismic hazard assessment.     

矩震级及震源机制相似地震的辐射能量差别——2014年鲁甸地震与景谷地震宽频带体波震级的比较

2014年8月3日鲁甸地震和10月7日景谷地震具有相似的矩震级和震源机制,但所造成的灾害却相差甚远。为考察地震辐射能量在这两次地震致灾过程中的作用,本文利用震中距6°~80°范围内记录了鲁甸地震的142个台站、记录了景谷地震的138个台站的宽频带地震记录,计算了累积宽频带体波震级m_(Bc)。结果表明鲁甸地震的m_(Bc)高于景谷地震,因此地震辐射能量的差别对解释两次地震灾害的差别有不可忽视的作用。     

Comparison between earthquake magnitudes determined by China seismograph network and US seismograph network （Ⅱ）： Surface wave magnitude

By using orthogonal regression method, a systematic comparison is made between surface wave magnitudes determined by Institute of Geophysics of China Earthquake Administration （IGCEA） and National Earthquake Information Center of US Geological Survey （USGS/NEIC） on the basis of observation data collected by the two institutions between 1983 and 2004. A formula is obtained which reveals the relationship between surface wave magnitudes determined by China seismograph network and US seismograph network. The result shows that, as different calculation formulae and observational instruments are used, surface wave magnitude determined by IGCEA is generally greater by 0.2 than that determined by NEIC： for M=3.5-4.5 earthquakes, it is greater by 0.3; for M=5.0-6.5 earthquakes, it is greater by 0.2; and for M≥7.0 earthquakes, it is greater by no more than 0.1.     

Study of calibration function for surface wave magnitude of DK1 seismographs

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传统与现代震级标度

首先阐述并比较传统震级(M_L、m_b、m_B、M_S及M_JMA)所用数据、计算方法及适用范围,系统梳理两种现代震级标度M_e和M_W的理论基础及计算方法。然后根据使用数据及适用场景不同,介绍M_WW、M_WC、M_Wb、M_wp及M_dt等矩震级测定方法;同时,随着越来越丰富的GPS观测数据,基于高频GPS观测也越来越多地被用于地震震级快速测定工作。最后对这些震级测定方法的时效性进行对比分析,讨论不同震级标度的适用场景及其稳定性。     

Differences between magnitudes of Taiwan earthquakes from catalogs of Taiwan and Beijing

IntroductionTaiwanlocatedinthecollisionboundalbetweentheEurasianandthePhilippineSeaplatesisoneofhighseismicityregionsintheworld.HundredsofearthquakeswithM25occurredperyearandmorethan40withM27since1900.Amongtheseevents,shalloweventswithdepthofseveraltensofkilometersandintermediate-deepeventswithdepthof100-200kinexistwhichrepresentsacharacterofthesubductionzone.ThemagnitudesofTaiwaneventslistedinthecatalogofChineseearthquakesaretakenfromsomehistoricaldocumentsandGutenbergandRichter'sworks(19…     

The November 14, 2001 west of Kunlun Mountain Pass earthquake: An earthquake with unsaturated surface wave magnitude

Introduction According to the Rapid Earthquake Information Release of CNDSN (Department of Earth- quake Monitoring and Prediction, China Earthquake Administration, 2002), an earthquake with surface wave magnitude MS=8.1 shook west of Kunlun Mountain Pass (KMP) at the juncture of Xinjiang, Qinghai and Xizang on November 14, 2001. This is the largest and the only MS>8.0 earthquake in Chinese mainland over 50 years since the August 15, 1950 MS=8.6 (MW=8.6) Chayuearthquake in Tibeta…     

On the relation of moderate-short term anomaly of earth resistivity to earthquake

IntroductionMany anomalies due to earthquake have been recorded in observation of earth-resistivity for30 years and over, which showed that there objectively existed the anomalies of each-resistivity.The crustal strUcture and medium conditions are quite complex, so the complexity of the temporal,spatial and intensive development of the anomalies is inevitable. Both of time and amplitUde ofanomalies among some stations near an epicenter are different (even among different observational directi…     

Lg magnitude determination for the eastern six Provinces of China (part 2)

Any pair ofm _{L gz} ,m _{L g} b,mmxz andmm x h in the eastern six provinces of China show good linear relation this makes it easy to convert from one scale to another.mm x h may replaceM _L (ECH) as the local earthquake magnitude scale for the eastern six provinces, yet retaining the level ofM _L (ECH). The scalemm x h is 0.36 magnitude units higher thanM _L (SC) for southern California. By comparingRm a x (Δ) withR ₃ (Δ) of Yunnan, it is found that the γ-value ofMAX phase of about 1 section in Yunnan region is half as large as that in the eastern six provinces of China. Observation indicates thatmm x h≈mb for magnitude 4–5. It follows therefore thatmb (ECH)≈mb (WUS). This is supported by the result that the attenuation coefficient, the γ-value in eastern China is the same as in western United States.     

The Conversion Relationship between the Local Earthquake Magnitude and Surface Wave Magnitude in the Inner Mongolia Digital Seismic Network

Using 116 earthquakes over M_L3.8 in the Inner Mongolia region from 2008 to 2015, the local earthquake magnitude M_L and surface wave magnitude M_S are remeasured. Based on norm linear regression(SR1 and SR2) and norm(OR) orthogonal regression method, we established the conversion relationship between M_L and M_S. The results were tested with Gaussian disturbance. The result shows that the orthogonal regression method(OR) result has the best fitting curve, and the conversion relation is M_S=0.96 M_L-0.10. The difference between our result and Guo Lücan's(M_S=1.13 M_L-1.08) may be caused by regional tectonic characteristics. M_(S Inner Mongolia) value is significantly higher than the M_(S empirical) value, with an average difference of 0.23, the difference distribution of empirical relation and the rectified relation is in the range of 0.2-0.3.     

Changes in source parameters of foreshocks and aftershocks of the 2001 Ms=6.0 Yajiang,Sichuan, earthquake

In this paper changes in focal mechanisms) parameters of wave spectra, and stress drops for the Ms=5.0 forcshock and Ms=6.0 mainshock in February 2001 in Yajiang County, Sichuan, and seismicity in cpiccntral region are studied. Comparison of focal mechanisms for the Yajiang earthquakes with distribution patterns of aftcrshocks, the nodal plane Ⅰ, striking in the direction of NEN, of the Yajiang M=5.0 event is chosen as the faulting plane, the nodal plane Ⅱ, striking in the direction of WNW, of the M=6.0 event as the faulting plane. The strikes of the two faulting planes are nearly perpendicular to each other. The level of stress drops in the cpicentral region before the occurrence of the M=6.0 earthquake increases, which is consistent with increase of seismicity in the epicentral region. The rate decay of the Yajiang earthquake sequence, changes in wave spectra for foreshocks and aftershocks,and focal mechanisms are complex.     

中国海域及邻区基于BP神经网络的矩震级转换模型

海域地震对我国海洋资源开发和沿海地区的经济建设形成严重威胁,开展相关地震活动性研究的重要前提是编译我国海域及邻区的地震目录。我国常用的震级标度为面波震级(MS),而国际上最新的地震活动模型多采用矩震级(MW),因此在应用这些模型时需要拟合面波震级与矩震级之间的转换关系。本文以中国海域及邻区为研究区,收集了1988—2020年中国地震台网的面波震级和全球矩心矩张量(GCMT)项目的矩震级数据,从中提取年份、深度、经度、纬度、面波震级作为影响因子,以实际记录的矩震级值作为标记,训练BP神经网络建立以GCMT的矩震级为目标的震级转换模型。同时,使用最小二乘回归和正交回归建立线性模型作为对比。结果显示,最小二乘回归和正交回归的平均绝对误差和均方根误差比BP神经网络高40%左右。此外,BP神经网络的残差绝对值更小、分布更集中。     

Application of the time-predictable model in Peninsular India for future seismic hazard assessment

It has been the belief among Earth scientists that the Peninsular Shield is aseismic, as the region attained stability long ago. However, the earthquake at Koyna (10 December 1967), Bhadrachalam (13 April 1969), Broach (23 March 1970), Hyderabad (30 June 1983), Khillari (30 September 1993), Jabalpur (22 May 1997), Gujarat (26 January 2001), and additional ones of smaller magnitudes, altered this concept. This area has experienced many widely distributed shallow earthquakes, some of them having large magnitudes. It is now widely accepted that seismic activity still continues with moderate events. Therefore, a need has arisen to take into consideration recent seismological data to assess the future seismic status of Peninsular India. Earthquake generation model has been studied to develop the statistical relations with surface wave magnitude (M _S ≥ 4.5). Five seismogenic sources showing clustering of earthquakes and including at least three main shocks of magnitude 4.5 ≤ M _S ≤ 6.5 giving two repeat times, have been identified. It is mainly based on the so-called “regional time-predictable model”. For the considered region it is observed that the time interval between two consecutive main shocks depends on the preceding main shock magnitude (M _p ) not on the following main shocks magnitude M _f suggesting the validity of time predictable model in the region.     

Research on characteristics of magnitude structure of earthquake sequences

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The revised m Lg scale in six eastern provinces of China

The influence of the four different methods of measuring Lg amplitude, and the selection of different geometrical attenuation coefficient ζ-values (=5/6 or 1) on the determination ofγ value of Lg wave are discussed.γ=0.0034±0.0001km⁻¹ (when ζ=5/6) for six eastern provinces is redetermined. The revised magnitude calibration function ofm _Lg (mxh),q _E (Δ)=(5/6)logΔ+0.00147Δ+1.81 is deduced. The Chinese version of this paper appeared in the Chinese edition ofActa Seismologica Sinica,13, 171–178, 1991. Projects sponsored by the Chinese Joint Seismological Science Foundation.     

Magnitude estimation of Koyna-Warna earthquakes, India

The paper presents the current state of magnitude estimation for Koyna earthquakes exceeding magnitude 3.0. We estimate coda duration magnitude from analogue seismograms recorded on the short period vertical (SPZ) seismometer at Hyderabad seismic observatory HYB and determine moment magnitude using very broad-band (VBB) data from the Geoscope station (HYB)and short period digital data from the local seismic network of NationalGeophysical Research Institute (NGRI) around the Koyna and Warna reservoirs.Firstly, the seismograms of 97 Koyna earthquakes exceeding magnitude 4.0 havebeen used to establish a new empirical coda duration magnitude scale which includes the higher order terms of log₁₀, where is the coda length in seconds. Four background noise levels (1, 2, 6 and 10 mm) areconsidered to estimate the coda duration. We found that the duration magnitudes for 1 mm background level are more stable than those for 2, 6 and 10 mm. The new coda duration magnitude (M_dnew) scale, for 1 mmlevel, is:M_dnew = –0.594 + 2.04 log₁₀ – 0.0435 (log₁₀)²The estimated M_dnew are compatible with the reported M_S values of the NGRI observatory and the m_b values of the United States Geological Survey (USGS). These magnitudes can be obtained within the standard deviation of ± 0.26 units of M_S (NGRI). A new relatively homogeneous catalog for Koyna earthquakes of M_dnew 4.0 is obtained. The momentmagnitudes for 34 Koyna-Warna events of M_dnew ranging from 3.0 to 5.4 have been estimated using two techniques. The first utilizes amplitudes of band-pass filtered (between 15 and 30 sec) velocity traces of moderate Koyna-Warna earthquakes of M_W} 4.4 to 5.4, we abbreviate the magnitude using M_A. The second is based on the S-wave spectrum of short period seismograms of local earthquakes (M_W < 3.8). Moment magnitudes estimated by spectral analysis mainly depend on the estimation of event's long-period spectral level and appears to saturate for moderate Koyna-Warnaearthquakes (M_W > 3.8). We recommend the use of both techniques whenever possible. The estimated moment magnitudes and M_dnew show an almost linear relationship with a standard deviation of ± 0.05.     

Physical background on estimating b value

The G-R relation lgN=a-bM (1954) is an empirical formula used widely in the seismicity research. But the linearity of b curves has great difference in different time and space domains. An interested question in this paper is that in how large a space-time-strength domain the b value has certain physical connotation. This study told us that we can get optimal statistical results of b value in those space-time domains which can develop correspondent strong shocks with magnitude interval (M _s≥8.5, 8.0≤M _s<8.5, 7.0≤M _s<8.0). Thus, the possible seismogenic areas in which strong shocks with different magnitude intervals develop can be inferred in different regions of the mainland of China. Finally, some new problems are proposed, such as the delimitation of seismic province, the seismicity parameter determination in seismic hazard analysis and in earthquake predictions by using b value. Contribution No. 96A-0074, Institute of Geophysics, SSB, China.