Theoretical Investigation of Seismic Electric Field Associated with Faulting

We present an electromagnetic model of a fault using the piezoelectric effect and the elastic dislocation theory to investigate theoretically the spatial distribution of the stress-induced charges associated with faulting. The relevant seismic electric field associated with these induced charges can be estimated quantitatively. Therefore, this simple model would provide a solid framework for additional theoretical developments on the explanations of the anomalous seismoelectric signals. The spatial distribution of the stress-induced charges around a vertical rectangular fault showed complicated characteristics. The estimation of the electric field associated with the stress-induced charges during the 1995 Kobe earthquake was consistent with the previous investigation from some reported anomalous seismic phenomena.