On the causes of unordinary periodicity of earthquakes

The diurnal periodicity of seismic events from three earthquake catalogs of Fennoscandia and Turkey is studied. The shape of diurnal distribution of seismic events in all the catalogs under investigation is similar to the unordinary diurnal periodicity of earthquakes described in previous papers. The principal feature of the diurnal periodicity of seismic events revealed in this paper is a wide maximum of the events in the day time. The very reliable conclusion is made that it is caused by presence of a great amount of quarry blasts in the catalogs.     

Diurnal periodicity of earthquakes in Greece

The catalog of earthquakes that happened in Greece over the period of 1964 to 2008 was used for the analysis of their diurnal periodicity in this region. The quality of the catalog was examined with the defining of the representativeness levels of earthquakes in different selections. The earthquakes, including relatively strong events with the magnitude M ≥ 4.0, demonstrate diurnal periodicity with seasonal differences in their course reflected in their higher summer seismicity as compared with the winter one.     

Diurnal periodicity of the representative earthquakes in Greece

The diurnal periodicity of seismic events of different energy from the Greece earthquake catalog was studied. Earthquake samplings of different energy with a known level of magnitude of completeness were compiled. Parameters of the diurnal periodicity of earthquakes in different time and magnitude intervals were analyzed. Significant diurnal periodicity of earthquakes with M ≤ 4.1 was revealed. The most important result of the paper is the discovery of the diurnal periodicity of the representative earthquakes with M = 3.2–4.1. The diurnal periodicity of representative earthquakes cannot be explained at the base of the prevailing hypothesis considering the diurnal periodicity of earthquakes as an apparent phenomenon resulting from diurnal changes in the real sensitivity of the seismic network due to diurnal variations of seismic noise.     

大地震的18.6年周期

将全球分为15个研究区,用1900~2009年MW≥7.0地震目录,统计分析了各区大地震与月球交点运动周期的关系,得出15个研究区中有10个区,大地震存在统计意义上的18.6 a周期:活跃段为12.4 a,平静段为6.2 a;环太平洋地震带北、南、西、东4大区的大地震,不仅有这样的周期,而且其地震活跃段的时间存在一定规律.用第6个18.6 a(1991~2009年)期间的大地震,检验据前5个18.6 a(1900~1990年)地震目录所得18.6 a 周期的稳定性和实用性,发现有这种周期的地区多数的周期性是稳定的.大地震18.6 a周期的可能成因有: (1)18.6 a潮波通过调制日潮和半日潮调制大地震; (2)上地幔内流体的潮汐(地内潮)作用; (3)18.6 a潮波通过影响地球自转变化调制大地震.     

Features of the diurnal periodicity of earthquakes in Japan

The features of the diurnal periodicity of earthquakes with different energies in Japan are studied. The spatiotemporal parameters of different earthquake sets are investigated in detail using various techniques including analyses of amplitudes, dispersion, spectra and correlation. The phases of seismic flows are studied using the modified Rayleigh-Schuster method. Lomb-Scargle periodograms are used to study the frequency of variations in seismicity. The parameters of the sets of earthquakes having different energies obtained in this study indicate changes in phase of the diurnal periodicity of earthquakes to the opposite near the magnitude of completeness. The very clear midday effect is noted.     

The 15-minute periodicity of earthquakes in Greece

A 15-min periodicity of seismic events in the catalog of earthquakes in Greece is discovered. It is most vividly expressed in the time series of weak and shallow events; however, it also occurs in the series of rather strong representative and deep earthquakes.     

Diurnal periodicity of earthquakes and its seasonal variations

Analysis of earthquake catalogues on 14 world regions has revealed a distinct diurnal periodicity of seismic events in all of them. The amplitude of the diurnal variations usually decreases with an increase in earthquake energy, although in some regions, the time series of strong earthquakes also demonstrate diurnal periodicity. Earthquakes are more frequent at night. The acrophase of the course of diurnal seismicity correlates with geographic longitude. The Rayleigh — Schuster hodographs of diurnal periodicity demonstrate sharp changes (kinks) in the vicinity of the equinox and solstice moments. The annual hodograph of the diurnal periodicity of earthquakes is distinctly divided by the equinox moments into segments with different slopes. The defined segments differ in the amplitude and acrophase of the course of diurnal seismicity. The data imply influence of the mutual positions of the Sun and Earth on seismicity in different world regions. Possible mechanisms responsible for such influence are discussed.     

Diurnal periodicity of weak earthquakes in Central Asia

Data on the time moments and numbers of weak earthquakes (M ≥ 0) are analyzed in five regions of Central Asia where long-term extensive instrumental observations of seismicity were conducted. Spectra of time moments of seismic events were calculated in the range of periods from 1 to 48 h with a step of half an hour. The time variations in the numbers of these earthquakes were also calculated in windows of 4 to 48 h wide with a summation step of 1 h. The presence of significant high-quality spectral extrema at periods of 24 and 12 h is established for all catalogs used, and less significant extrema at a period of 8 h are established for some catalogs. These periodicities are observed in the analysis of weak earthquakes with M < 2.2 (K < 8) and are virtually absent for stronger seismic events. It is shown that lunisolar tides have no appreciable gravitational effect on the observed variations in seismic emission. Daily variations in the actual sensitivity of the observation network due to the daytime increase in the noise level as a factor responsible for the observed diurnal periodicity raise doubts.     

Diurnial periodicity of strong earthquakes of Garm research area

The diurnial periodicity of Garm Polygon earthquakes of various energy classes K [(magnitudes M): weak, K < 6.0 (M < 1.1); moderate, 6.0 < K < 8.0 (1.1 < M < 2.2); strong, K > 8.0 (M > 2.2)] has been studied. The time series of weak earthquakes is characterized by maximum activity at night and a clear diurnal periodicity that practically disappears for moderate earthquakes. Such periodicity can be traced again in the time series of the strong earthquakes practically antiphased to weak earthquakes; i.e., the maximum strong earthquakes occurred during the day time.     

The pattern of diurnal periodicity of weak earthquakes in Iran

The catalogue of earthquakes recorded in Iran during 2006–2010 by a dense network of digital telemetric seismic stations is analyzed. The spectrum of the time series of these earthquakes contains a sharp maximum at 24 h. The corresponding curve of diurnal periodicity constructed by the superposed epoch method has a clear double-peak maximum near noon(11 a.m.-5 p.m. local time), which exceeds the level of seismic activity observed during the rest time of the day by a factor of 3-3.5. In the same time interval, the average hourly magnitudes of seismic events sharply drop from M = 2.15 to M = 1.95. The ratio of the normalized number of earthquakes in the daytime to those at other times of the day, which was determined within a moving window half a square degree in size, has seven distinct compact spatially isolated maxima whose magnitudes attain several dozens to a hundred units. These maxima are probably caused by industrial activity, such as road building and quarry explosions. We also note the presence of the weekend effect when the daytime maximum in the weekly curve of diurnal variations in seismic activity almost completely disappears on Friday, which is the weekend in Muslim countries. At the same time, elimination of the supposed noise component from the catalogue by the approved technique changes nothing for the daytime maximum in the daily pattern of earthquakes in Iran. In order to account for this inconsistency, we suggest invoking additional information on the technogenic seismicity and considering weak earthquakes induced by quarry explosions and vibrations of industrial machines, in particular, power units of numerous hydroelectric power stations distributed over the territory of Iran.     

Search for hidden periodicity in magnetometric measurements performed during auroras

A method for detecting discrete equidistant spectra in high-latitude magnetic observations is proposed. The method finds approximate solutions of the classical Schuster problem, which finds a hidden periodicity in observations with considerable noise. The usage of difference signals makes it possible to increase the latitudinal resolution of the magnetometric diagnostics. The equidistant spectra of two different types have been detected based on the proposed method. The spectra of the first type are interpreted as frequencies of coupled compressional-transverse magnetohydrodyncompressionalamic oscillations in the magnetospheric cavity. The origin of the second type of spectra can be related to a rotating source, i.e., a small-scale vortex of magnetospheric convection. Such an interpretation takes into consideration the Doppler frequency shift caused by entrainment of the ionospheric neutral gas by magnetospheric convection. The results confirm the conclusion that discrete auroral frequencies are stable under disturbed conditions.     

Diurnal periodicity of weak earthquakes and high-frequency underground noise in Kamchatka

We have analyzed the data on the times and number of weak earthquakes (M = 0–2.5) included in the up-to-date (final version) Catalog of Kamchatka Earthquakes for 1995–2008, and the intensity of highfrequency underground noise measured in the deep borehole near Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy (according to the literature data). We calculated the spectra of the seismic time series within the range of periods from 1 to 48 hours with a step of one minute. It was found that the spectrum of the earthquake data series contains a significant high Q extremum in a period of 24 hours that can be linked with a similar period in the high-frequency underground noise in Kamchatka and in the Russian Platform. There are some grounds to suggest that the weak earthquakes and the underground noise (seismoacoustic emission) have the same nature. In both cases, the shapes of the curve of the diurnal periodicity are found to depend on the duration of light during the day. The probable reasons for the solar impact on the seismic emission processes are discussed.     

Comparison of the diurnal periodicity features of seismic noise,earthquakes, and electric power consumption

The main features of periodic changes in the parameters of seismic noise, seismicity and electric power consumption in industrial networks are compared to verify the hypothesis on the technogenic influence of electric network load on seismic noise and seismicity and to search for possible origins of the diurnal periodicity in seismic emission processes discovered in various regions of the world. Sufficiently good similarity of the compared processes is revealed that does not contradict the hypothesis. However, there are also some important discrepancies. An inverse phase pattern of interdiurnal distributions of weak and strong Japanese earthquakes has been found, and various possible mechanisms of this phenomenon, which had been observed earlier in certain other regions, are discussed.     

Changes in the diurnal periodicity of Southern California earthquakes in the neighborhood of the catalog magnitude of completeness

Dependence of the diurnal periodicity phase diagrams for Southern California earthquakes on their magnitude is studied with the Rayleigh-Schuster method. The highest statistical significance of diurnal periodicity is characteristic for the weakest non-representative earthquakes occurring in the night rather than in the daytime. The statistical significance of the earthquake diurnal periodicity decreases as the earthquake magnitude increases. Diurnal periodicity disappears in the neighborhood of the catalog magnitude of completeness. It appears again with a reasonably high level of statistical significance in the magnitude range exceeding the magnitude of completeness. However, its phase becomes opposite: strong earthquakes are more frequent in the daytime. Phase diagrams of different spatial earthquake sample groups are compared, and the night and daytime earthquake recurrence graphs are studied.     

On the nature of intraplate earthquakes

Continental intraplate regions are characterized by uniform stresses over thousands of kilometers. Local stresses, with wavelengths of tens to hundreds of kilometers can accumulate at inhomogeneities lying within these regional fields. A variety of geological structures, herein called local stress concentrators (LSCs), act as elastic inhomogeneities. The temporal buildup of stress depends on the particular structure and its geometrical relationship with the regional stress field. The interaction of the local and the regional stress fields can result in the rotation of the latter over wavelengths of tens to hundreds of kilometers. This rotation can be detected by direct measurement or from seismicity data. Intraplate earthquakes (IPEs) result when the local stresses become comparable with their regional counterparts, i.e., hundreds of megapascals. Globally, most of the seismic energy release associated with IPEs occurs within old rifts which contain LSCs most favorable for stress buildup by stress inversion. Of the various LSCs, stepover en echelon faults are associated the largest IPEs. In low tectonic strain rate regions, IPEs are associated with larger stress drops. With the availability of a variety of LSCs, there is generally an absence of repeat earthquakes. Instead, successive earthquakes occur on different structures, leading to the observation of “roaming” earthquakes. These observations suggest a need for a reevaluation of seismic hazard estimation techniques. This study addresses some of these facets of the nature of IPEs with global examples, including a unique, detailed seismicity and geodetic data set collected in a dozen years following the 2001 M 7.7 Bhuj earthquake in western India.     

东北地区地震活动的Rydelek-Sacks周期性检验和震级-周期谱研究

为检验中国东北地区地震活动可能存在的周期性特征和深、浅源地震在周期性活动上的相关性,利用Rydelek-Sacks检验方法和不同的地震目录,考虑了地震震级的选取对周期性特征识别可能存在的影响,并在震级-周期谱中进行了比较研究.对该地区1970-2009年ML≥4.5浅源地震、1920-2009年Ms≥5.0浅源地震和1...     

On magnetic precursors of earthquakes

A simple classification is proposed for magnetic precursors of earthquakes. The high-latitude observations of the so-called Big Magnetic Pulses (BMP)—isolated high-amplitude magnetic pulses that sporadically arise against the undisturbed magnetic background—are used for searching for a probable correlation between BMPs and earthquakes. It is shown by the superposed epoch analysis that seismic activity slightly increases after BMPs. A wide maximum in the number of the earthquakes is observed within the first hour after the BMP. Thus, probably, a new type of magnetic precursors has been found. However, the mechanism of the relationship between BMPs and earthquakes remains open to discussion.     

On coda waves of earthquakes

Summary Coda waves viz. the tail portion of an earthquake record have been observed and analysed byCarder, Macelwane and others. They showed that the periods of such waves increase with the increase of epicentral distances.Carder observed that these waves have very little transverse component so that these may be considered as of the type of Rayleigh waves. RecentlyOmote showed that the Coda waves contain three periodsT ₁,T ₂,T ₃ of whichT ₁ increases with epi-central distances as observed by previous observers. ButT ₂,T ₃ remain constant for all earthquakes from different epicentral distances.Omote tried to explain this phenomenon by considering that the surface of the earth consists of several layers andT ₂,T ₃ are free oscillation periods of the surface layers.T ₁ period has been explained bySezawa and also byJeffreys which has been shown byGutenberg. The author has attempted to explain the periodsT ₂,T ₃ by considering passage of cracks at the focal region. The Rayleigh wave character of Coda waves and low velocity of such waves have been explained.     

On fault plane solutions of earthquakes

Summary Fault plane solutions of earthquakes which are based onP observations only have the drawback that they yield two orthogonal planes either of which could be the fault plane. In this paper it is investigated what minimal information fromS waves is required to resolve the ambiguity as to which of the two orthogonal planes is the fault plane. It is shown that, in principle, only the sign of the initial impulse of theSH phase at one favorably located station is necesary for this purpose. It is emphasized, however, that the station must be favorably located, i.e. it must be located in certain sectors of the globe. The conditions for the latter are stated.