Application of digital image processing to the determination of spatial distribution of earthquakes

（陈锦标，沈萍，郑治真）Ａｐｐｌｉｃａｔｉｏｎｏｆｄｉｇｉｔａｌｉｍａｇｅｐｒｏｃｅｓｓｉｎｇｔｏｔｈｅｄｅｔｅｒｍｉｎａｔｉｏｎｏｆｓｐａｔｉａｌｄｉｓｔｒｉｂｕｔｉｏｎｏｆｅａｒｔｈｑｕａｋｅｓ￥Ｊｉｎ－ＢｉａｏＣＨＥＮ；ＰｉｎｇＳＨＥＮａｎｄＺ...

Application of digital image processing to the determination of spatial distribution of earthquakes

This paper has proposed a practical method for determining the spatial distribution pattern of earthquakes by means of digital image processing and has given some calculation results. This method can overcome the artificial arbitrariness which is usually inevitable in determining the spatial distribution of earthquakes. Meanwhile, the form of seismic gaps and the method for identifying seismic gaps have also been discussed. It should be pointed out that the method proposed in this paper is a new idea in this respect. However, this method is still unable to determine the seismic gap uniquely. In order to identify the real seismic gap, comprehensive analysis of the variation of other relevant parameters (e. g., the b-value, etc. ) should also be made. The results are as follows; Thephenomenon that an area of high seismic activity is surrounded by low seismicity areas, i. e., the seismic clustering pattern is the general form of spatial distribution of earthquakes; whereas a low seismicity area surrounded by high seismicity areas, i. e., the seismic gap pattern, is only an important form of spatial distribution of earthquakes. Earthquakes often occur in a certain seismic clustering area or on its margin.