Geophysical fields, block structure, and seismic activity of the Central Kuril Islands

Based on the combined analysis of the seismologic and other geophysical data (the gravity and magnetic fields and the acoustic basement topography), it was revealed that the largest earthquakes that occurred in the region of the Central Kuril Islands in 2006, 2007, and 2009 were related to the block structure of the Earth’s crust. The aftershocks of the largest earthquakes recorded in 2006 and 2007 became foreshocks for the earthquakes of 2007 and 2009, respectively. In total, the earthquakes that occurred in this area in the period of 2006–2012 are closely related to the tectonic destruction zone existing there, clarify its position, and support the previous concept of the superimposed and cross cutting relationships of this zone with respect to the Kuril Island Arc.