Lunar and solar tidal components in the occurrence of earthquakes in Italy

Summary. A method for the determination of lunar and solar daily components of earthquakes is proposed. Its application to the most intense earthquakes with epicentres in Italy (from 1900 to 1983) provides for the first time large and significant lunar and solar tidal terms. The absence of significant results from the analysis of 9157 world-wide large shocks processed according to the proposed method and to routine spherical harmonic techniques indicates that the Italian earthquakes are locally tidally triggered.